Welcome to the municipality of Morne-Rouge, the highest community on the island. This feature gives it one of the wettest and coolest climates, ideal for growing (especially tropical flowers).
Located at the foot of the Pelee Mountain, the town is named after (red for the lava) in 1889, and near the Pitons du Carbet massif, this territory has an incredible diversity with dense forest and animals that shelter there. Agricultural land but also hiking where you can climb the Mount Pelee, enjoy the slopes of the volcano to practice canyoning.
You will also have sites to visit such as the House of the Volcano, the Domain of the Emerald or the church of the municipality, classified as a historical monument, “the Church of Our Lady of the Delivrande and its statue of Our Lady “.
This territory conducive to the culture of wildlife is also the stronghold of a site dedicated to show and educate you on the richness of the biodiversity of the island. The Domaine de l’Emeraude is the name of this place.
Itinerary
To join the domain, leaving from Fort-de-France, join the A1 then the D41 to take the exit towards Balata (N3). This road also called Balata road will take you to the heights of Martinique with many bends. You will see as you go, a hygrophilous vegetation that will be more and more lush and dense around you. You will have to drive a good half hour to the reception area of Alma then continue on the road of the Trace (still the N3 towards Morne Rouge), past the starting parking of the Trace of the Jesuits, then 10 minutes later, you will see the entrance to the Domaine de l’Emeraude site. You have to drive an hour from the exit Balata.
The parking is spacious, you will have no problem to park.
Le Domaine d’Émeraude
The entrance is just near the car park, cross and take on your right to go to the shop
Le Domaine d’Emeraude open every day from 9 am to 4 pm
Facebook link of the site to follow its news
The visit costs 6 euros per adult et 3 euros per children
What you should know…..
This place was designed by the Regional Natural Park of Martinique.
No staging here… Just a development of our biodiversity in a splendid case “..
The way starts with a walk in the middle of a well-landscaped green area that takes us on our way to the Nature Exploration Pavilion
Pools with fountains have been set up and you can already discover many varieties of trees and plants identified with the help of small information boards.
Here is the entrance of the museum.
If you turn around you will have a view on the garden and the mountain Pelée in the back.
Enter the museum to discover several interactive spaces that expose the geological history of Martinique, the origin of this incredible biodiversity and finally the observation of this fauna and flora collected through the many showcases. Phrases and information boards perfectly illustrate these showcases and exhibitions to make visitors understand and attract visitors’ curiosity.
Behind this museum, a row located on the wall shows a part of the history of the island of Martinique and in particular the territory of the Domaine d’Emeraude, once occupied by Alsatians.
The visit continues with a route that will take you to a panoramic view of the area or to a forest trail to discover this humid and dense atmosphere with its vegetation.
Let’s start with the route to the panorama. Take on the right of the flowered roundabout to go to the greenhouses.
Information sheets on pots and information boards on shrubs and plants will help to identify them.
When you arrive at the top of the hill following the course, you will have a splendid panoramic view on the field with Mount Pelée in the background.
Click on this link to have a first video preview of the panoramic view on our Facebook page.
You come back to your starting point where you can go this time to the medicinal plants located around the house in yellow and blue wood.
Go backwards to the roundabout to enjoy the last activity that is the discovery of the rainforest. You can choose different trails more or less long by following the color codes.
These walks are the way to discover the rain forest and its humid and very vegetated atmosphere.
It’s up to you to choose your route, knowing that the longer it is, the more you will be able to learn about the fauna and flora of the forest thanks to carbets (Ajoupa) situated at different corners of the forest.
Each Ajoupa has a different theme featuring image and description to explain and make you discover the natural and geological history of this territory that you visit.
Back to the level of the flowery roundabout.
Go down the path towards the entrance of the site.
At the entrance of the site, you can enjoy the shop for shopping or enjoy a meal prepared by the on-site restaurant. Possibility also to eat pancakes or other sweets in the afternoon.
A small picnic area is also available.
Enjoy the visit !
Here is a web link, if you want to discover other attractions in Martinique. This site lists other places, ballads and activities to see on the island
Tips
Ø Circulation in Martinique: During the weeks you will encounter many traffic jams from 7 a.m. to 9. 30 a.m. in the industrial and commercial areas. Especially mornings driving from south (Rivière Salée, N5) to the North (Fort-de-France, A1), but also East (Robert , N1) going North , you will find the same traffic jams every evening on the other side from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Tip, think of the way and time you want to travel in order not to lose time.
Ø Equipment: Good pair of sneakers or hiking shoes, light clothing, hiking bag (knife, flashlight, k-way, cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, mosquito repellent).
Ø Health :
– Easy acces : by car then walking, can be done by the all family.
Ø Visit :
– Interest : 4 to 5, a space for discovering the fauna and flora that surrounds us. Visit costs (6 euros per adult and 3 euros per children )
Ø Opening hours : open every day from 9 am to 4 pm.
Others You can hike the Jesuit Trail, Yang-Ting Pass, or go for a picnic at Alma Forest.
Do not hesitate to post you commentaries or to ask for information on contact@domloisirsetculture.fr.
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Dom Loisirs et Culture at your service.
OLIVIER Damien, your humble guide
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