Description of the attraction
Sainte-Anne is a French commune located in the south of Martinique, about 30 km from the capital of the island - Fort-de-France. Sainte Anne is a popular resort famous for its white sand beaches, of which Salines Beach is one of the most beautiful in the Lesser Antilles. The beaches cover 22 km of the coast. Palm groves protect them from winds and immodest eyes. To the east, the city is adjoined by a section of arid savannah. Lake Salines is on the same side.
The city got its name in honor of the commandant de Saint-Anne, the glorious defender of the island of Martinique from the attack of the British in 1808.
In 1690, a chapel of the Virgin Mary was built in Saint-Anne for local residents and residents of a dozen nearby sugarcane farms. It was burned by the British, who were competing with the French for dominion on the island. The chapel was restored in 1730. This time it held out for almost a century: at the beginning of the 19th century, it was destroyed by a hurricane that hit Martinique. The reconstruction of the temple was completed in 1829. After 37 years, the church of the Holy Virgin Mary was expanded and richly decorated. At the end of the 20th century, the municipality allocated funds for the restoration of the bell tower. The Church of St. Anne is considered one of the oldest in Martinique and is recognized as a historical monument.
Calvaria, located behind the church, is a popular pilgrimage site for believers from all over Martinique. About 5 thousand pilgrims gather here annually in September.
Outside the city, in the savannah, you can find an area where petrified tree trunks are collected. Another famous local landmark is the Cabrits Island Lighthouse, built in 1929. The island of Cabrits, the southernmost point of Martinique, is opposite Salines Beach.
