Citadelle Laferriere - Haiti Observer Blog

Did you know that there is a plan for China to build a cable car line linking Labadee with Citadelle Laferriere? We just learned that China is getting more involved in Haiti. It is already estimated that this Cable car line project will greatly improve tourism in Haiti. Once this project is accomplished, Royal Caribbean will be able to offer its passengers more than a breathtaking scenery, incredible thrills and spectacular water activities at their private beach destination in Labadee. They will be able to offer them tours to the historic Haiti site of Citadelle Laferriere in very safe conditions.

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As part of the Ministry of Tourism's efforts to attract more tourism to Haiti, the Citadelle Museum of Artillery was launched on November 17, 2013. In attendance were Minister of Culture, Josette Darguste; Institute for the Protection of National Heritage (ISPAN) Director General, Monique Rosann; and the Musee du Panthéon National Haïtien Curator and Director, Michèle G. Frisch. The Ministry of Tourism Director General, Maryse Noel, presided.

La Citadelle Museum houses the most impressive examples of 18th century canons, mortars, and howitzers. Cast in iron or bronze of French, English, Spanish, and Italian origin, they represent the victories of the Haitian military over foreign invaders, under the command of Generals Toussaint Louverture, and his successor, Jean Dessalines. Haiti liberated itself under Dessalines, who became the island's first non-royal ruler.

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Columbus' Santa Maria ran into a coral reef in 1492 and still, supposedly, lays there today, as much a ruin as the once-great city that was Cap Haitian.

The Spanish crew ultimately decided to settle in Santo Domingo in what is now the Dominican Republic, leaving Cap Haitian to the pirates who would influence its first name, Cabo Francés. The French revolution would inspire one in Haiti as well, as the 'freedom and liberty' so valiantly touted by the French masters about the French in France told of an unbearable hypocrisy to the African-descended slaves in Haiti. A 13 year war began and ended near Cabo Francés, with the resulting independence of the enslaved and the country of Haiti. Proudly, they renamed the cape Cap-Haitien after naming their country Haiti, considering it, the site of the most important struggles, the birthplace of their independence.

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In hot pursuit of the title of 'Tourism Destination of the Caribbean' for the country he is president of, Michel Martelly and his tourism minister Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin were on site at Milot in the northern town of Choiseul recently to witness the inauguration of a major tourist reception structure.

With Cap-Haitien 12 miles to the north, Milot is the site of Haiti's most loved and well-known landmarks, the Citadelle Laferrière. Chosen as one of the many sites to profit from the new push to Haitian tourism by creating more tourist reception centers across the country, the investment made at Milot is a great contribution to the attraction of expeditions to the National Historical Park.

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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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One of the Nord Department's municipalities is one of the most popular sites in the northern area of Haiti. Milot is a leading tourist attraction of the country, housing several historical landmarks and sites and having a rich history.

Milot is 20 kilometres from Cap-Haitien, a popular coastal city in the northern part of Haiti. In the 1800s, it was proclaimed as the country's first site capital by King Henri Christophe. Under King Henri I's rule, the beautiful Sans-Souci Palace was constructed from 1810 to 1813. The construction also included the building of eight smaller palaces, fifteen chateaus, several forts and summer homes, as well as twenty plantations, all owned and managed by the then royal family. The Palace is the notorious site of King Henri I's suicide in 1820. In 1842, it was destroyed by a strong earthquake and was never rebuilt. Despite its rough shape, it remains one of the most enamouring sites to see in Haiti, resulting in its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

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Did you see the show that President Michel Martelly when he visited the Citadelle Laferrière this year?

The staff that was present at the time was blamed for the state of disrepair of our National pride Citadelle Laferrière.

Michel Martelly was not willing to either listen to or accept any justification provided by the employees or representatives from ISPAN.

Present during the encounter at Citadelle Laferriere were: the Minister of Culture, Mario Dupuy, officials of the Institute for the Protection of National Heritage (ISPAN), responsible for the restoration of the citadel, Minister of Tourism, Stephanie Balmir Villedrouin, Gregory Mayard-Paul and other journalists.

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Cap-Haitian also known formerly as le Cap, Cap-Henri and Cap-Francais is located on Haiti's northern coast. It is the capital of the Department of Nord and is located near Milot, a historic town. It has around 190,000 inhabitants with indigenous migrants from South and Central America. During the colonial rule it was an important city where it served as the capital of the French Colony of Saint Dominigue from 1711 to 1770.

Anti Government And Revolutionary Movements

The capital was moved to Port-au-Prince. Initially, under the rule of King Henri Christophe, it was Kingdom of Northern Haiti's first capital. Infrastructure for transportation was not very good during that time. The city was destroyed by the 7th May 1842 earthquake.

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On Thursday, July 19, 2012, the president of Haiti, Mitchel Martely was full of anger. This was due to the state of the conditions he found at the Citadelle Laferrière. The president had made a tour at the citadel and was accompanied by various senior officials in the government. Among them included the president's advisor Gregory Mayard Paul, the Minister of Culture, Stephanie Balmir Villedrouin, the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Yvone Alteon and other senior officials at the Institute for the Protection of National Heritage, ISPAN. ISPAN has the responsibility for the restoration of the Citadelle which is a tourist attraction site in Haiti.

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