One of the most remarkable buildings in the Caribbean — an ornate prefabricated iron structure originally built for the 1889 Paris World's Fair, then shipped in pieces and reassembled here in Fort-de-France. Named after Victor Schoelcher, abolitionist and champion of Martinique's enslaved population, it now functions as the city's main public library. The exterior alone, a riot of polychrome ironwork, is worth the walk.
Schoelcher Library
Ornate iron library built for the 1889 Paris World's Fair, shipped to Martinique
A story
The library was designed by Henri Pick for the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition, then completely disassembled and shipped piece by piece across the Atlantic to Martinique. It was dedicated to Victor Schoelcher, the French politician who secured the abolition of slavery in French colonies in 1848.