Visitors to this, the capital of Guadeloupe will see one of the oldest French settlements in the Caribbean lying in the shadow of the Soufrière volcano. Banana boats fill their holds at the harbor, and the town offers the sightseer many examples of French colonial heritage, as well as modern government buildings. Points of interest include Fort
St-Charles, the town square, the Cathedral and the botanical gardens.
The town was founded in 1640 and has been at the center of the colonial history of the archipelago. Basse-Terre was twice occupied by British forces and torn by the French Revolution, Napoléonic suppressions and anti-slavery conflicts, Hurricanes and volcanic eruptions have helped restrict the size of the town to it's present 14,000 inhabitants.
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