Notre-Dame Cathedral (Our Lady of the Assumption)

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption — Notre-Dame de l'Assomption — is the Catholic cathedral of Cap-Haïtien and the seat of the Archdiocese. The current building replaced a predecessor destroyed in the great earthquake of 1842. It stands on the main square of the city, a neoclassical structure with twin towers that has been the religious and civic anchor of Cap-Haïtien since the nineteenth century.

The interior is notable for its Haitian-style religious art and painted decorations. Mass is well-attended and the cathedral is an active centre of community life. The square in front is one of the main gathering points of the city, particularly in the evenings.

things to do sight
A story
The original cathedral on this site was destroyed in the 1842 earthquake that devastated Cap-Haïtien, killing thousands. The city was known as Cap-Français under French colonial rule and was once called "the Paris of the Antilles" — wealthier and more elegant than most colonial cities in the Caribbean. The earthquake erased much of that elegance in minutes.