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Martinique is an Overseas French Department, located south of the Cancer Tropic, With 1,050 square km., is part of the group of the Barlovento islands, within the Little Antilles.
(map)
Official Holidays
January 1st New Year Carnival (It is celebrated during 5 days)
Holly Week
May 22nd Slavery Abolition Day
July 14 Independence Day
July 21st Schoelcher Day
August 15th Ascension Day
November 1st All Saints
November 11th Armistice Day
December 25th Christmas
Events Calendar
March; Sailing International Week (Fort de France Yacht Club); Foire Exposition (Stade de Dillon Fort de France); Golf Tournament for professionals and amateurs.
April: Aqua Festival: Convergences (gathering of people from the different “Mornes” or hills at the city of Ajoupa Brouillon); Martinique Tourism Exposition; Caribbean Tourism Fair.
May 1-30: Mai of Saint Pierre (commemorating the eruption of Mount Pelče); Caribbean Theater Festival
June: Jazz Festival at Leyritz Plantation Estate. Phone 0596 78 94 67
July: Fort de France Cultural Festival; International cycling race; Crayfish Festival in Ajoupa Brouillon
August: Yola’s race around the island
October: Caribbean Golf Tournament
November: Jazz International festival (every two years) or Guitar International Festival.
December: Tourism fair
Rum festival, Musče du Rhum, (rum museum), St. James Distillery
Carnival
During the five days carnival, each day has a theme assigned to costumes,
Saturday and Sunday: free costumes
Monday: Burlesque weddings
Tuesday. Red devils
Ash Wednesday: black and white dresses for king Vaval burial, a huge puppet burnt by people at Fort de France harbor, at night.
PLANNING THE TRIP
Banks and exchange
The official currency is the French franc, though some places accept American dollars. Most known credit cards are also accepted. Some banks have ATMs.
Tourist Office Abroad
Contact to:
La Maison de France,
Alcala, 63, Madrid.
Phone no. 91 541 88 08
Websites
http://www.martinique.org
PRACTICAL TIPS
News
The main newspaper is the French-Antilles. Martinique Info is a free tourist publication. Ti Gourmet publishes a very reliable list of the island’s restaurants. Radio France Outre-Mer (RFO) has a radio broadcast and TV channel.
Post Services
There are post offices at all main cities.
Phone and fax
The area code is 596. You can make calls marking the number, directly from hotels and public phones. The biggest hotels have fax service.
Tourist Information Local Offices
76 rue Lazare Carnot, 97200 Fort de France
Phone 60 27 73 Fax 60 27 95
Maison du Tourism Vert
9 Boulevard du General de Gaulle, 97200 Fort de France
Phone no. 63 18 54 Fax no. 70 17 61
Medical Assistance
At Martinique there are 18 hospitals and clinics. The best is La Meynard in Fort de France.
Medical emergencies:
SAMU, Hopital Pierre Zobda Quitman
(La Meynard), Lamentin
Phone no. 7515 15
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