Cap-Haitian Tips - Haiti Observer Blog

Haiti got its name from the Arawak word meaning 'mountainous land', and the soaring, monolithic mountains, green and dotted by an assortment of trees, with very few visible settlements to interrupt nature's design on display in Cap Haitian, give credence to this moniker. However, Cap Haitian's man-made beauty also comes in the form of the streets and buildings where life abounds. Bustling towns, almost certainly overpopulated but opposingly free of traffic, pulse with a vibrant life-blood, set at the foot of these majestic hills which first met Christopher Columbus and his crew aboard the Santa Maria in 1492.

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The former Capital of the colony of Saint-Domingue, Cap-Haitian was called Cap-Francais and consequently, has kept the beautiful French architecture of the time.

Cap-Haitien is the highlights of Haitian History besides the cultural values of its architecture. Its well preserved French colonial architecture was so beautiful and modern during the French colonization that it was surname "The Paris of the west"

Christophe rebuilt the re-named Cap Haitian, which became his capital, to some of its former glory. His most impressive achievements were his castle, the Palais Sans Souci, which is said to have rivaled Versailles in its day, and the behemoth Citadelle.

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The city of Cap-Haïtien is located near the historic Haïtian town of Milot, which lies about 12 miles away. This little city in Haiti is known to be the first Capital of Haiti. Henri Christophe, who took power in 1807, renamed Cap-Francais as Cap-Henri and built his Sans-Souci palace in Milot.

About miles away from the Sans-Souci palace is a massive stone fortress bristling with cannons, atop a nearby mountain. The Citadelle Laferrière is a fort that was built with the labor of 20,000 men high atop a mountain to protect against a return of the French.

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The city of Cap-Haitian has a reach history, specially during the French colonization. This small city has its name changed at least four times. It as founded in 1670 by Bertrand d'Ogeron who saw the great opportunity at the time based on its geographic location. However, as the region started growing as an economic force for France, the city called at this time Cap-Francais became a major port to ship sugar, coffee, cotton and indigo. The merchants began to display their wealth and Cap-Francais acquired the name'Paris of the Antilles.'

The great wealth the city well know to be generating at the time was produced on the back of the African slaves who had replaced the indigenous peoples who had migrated from present-day Central and South America in the 16th century. Due to the colonization and introduction of new infectious diseases, as well as poor treatment received by the colonizers, the indigenous population rapidly declined.

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The all-male private Roman Catholic primary and secondary school is located on the top of a mountain dominating the city. It was founded in 1904 by the Congregation of Holy Cross.

This school has a long history with the city of cap-Haitian. An entrance exam is required before you can be admitted to the school in order to maintain the academic quality.

Some of the most famous and successful people in the entire region were educated there. College Notre Dame Du Perpetuel Secours has produced religious, political figures and former Presidents. Former President of Haiti Jean-Bertrand Aristide was at one point a student at College Notre Dame Du Perpetuel Secours.

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