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Guadeloupe : the island where nature rules
Guadeloupe is the largest island in the French West Indies. Many traces of its history and cultural diversity can be found in this butterfly shaped archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. It vegetation, listed by Unesco as a world heritage, is remarkable, but its other natural sites also deserve to be discovered.
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Crayfish cascade
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Lagoon beach
© Hemis.fr
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Church of Deshaies
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Meridien beach
© Hemis.fr
History and Geography
An archipelago named by Christopher Colombus
Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean Sea, is made up of two main islands, the Basse-Terre and the Grande-Terre, as well as the Désirade, the Saintes and Marie-Galante. Originally called Karukera, it owes its name to the Spanish monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, founded after Christopher Columbus landed on the island in 1493.
Cultural heritage
The trump card of tourism
Guadeloupe, listed as a Unesco world heritage site, is an island remarkable for its luxuriant and exotic vegetation. With its National Park, submarine reservation, landscapes and beaches, the archipelago has many features for attracting nature and sea lovers.
Exceptional sites
The Soufrière
The Soufrière, or the "old lady", is an unmissable site. This 1,467 m high and still active volcano rises on the southern end of the Basse-Terre Island. It's an opportunity to discover an almost lunar rocky and chaotic landscape with sulphur vapours and incredible hot springs.
Lifestyle
The dominant place of music
Music is essential in the culture of Guadeloupe, especially the gwo ka, a means of expression inherited from the times of slavery, played on drums. Local festivals also resound to zouk and reggae.
Gastronomy
An abundance of spices
Guadeloupe, a land of flavours, has combined the incredible range of spices at its disposal with local produce in its cookery. The result? Delicious acras, boudins créoles, colombos… The markets overflow with varied produce: exotic fruits, fish and shellfish that will delight gourmets. And let's not forget the rum, not to be missed.
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