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St. Martin

Marigot, Saint Martin

Marigot: The French Capital of Saint-Martin

The French part of Saint-Martin covers about 60 percent of the island, and since 2007 it has been a French overseas collectivity rather than part of Guadeloupe. There is no border post between the two sides, so you can cross to Sint Maarten, the Dutch side, without stopping. Most of the island's cruise passengers land on the Dutch side, at the deep-water port of Pointe Blanche.

Good to know

Arriving in Marigot

Marigot's port handles inter-island ferries and can host only one small cruise ship at a time, so your ship will tell you whether it ties up or brings you ashore by tender. A waterfront promenade runs from the Marina Fort Louis past the market to the cemetery.

  • Taxis on the French side charge official fares set by distance and zone, and there is a taxi stand in Marigot. Agree the fare before you get in.
  • Minibuses run often between Marigot and Philipsburg on the Dutch side; look for license plates marked bus.
  • Ferries to Saint-Barthélemy leave from Marigot.
  • A phone call from one side of the island to the other is, in effect, an international call.

Marigot on Your Own

Marigot is easy to get around on foot, and its market, fort and main street are all in town. A simple plan is the market in the morning, the walk up to Fort Louis, and lunch in town, with a taxi to Grand Case if you want a longer meal.

  • The market: The open-air market on the waterfront sells spices, souvenirs and local goods, and Wednesday and Saturday mornings are the best times to go.
  • Fort Louis: Built in 1789 on Marigot Hill, the fort guarded the warehouses below, where coffee, salt, rum and sugar were stored. It was restored in 1993 and 1994 and looks out over Marigot Bay.
  • Rue de la République: One of Marigot's main streets, it keeps traditional facades from the early 19th century.
  • Grand Case: The old fishing village of Grand Case, on the French side, is known for its restaurants and is a taxi ride away. Leave a wide margin for the trip back.
  • Getting back on time: All-aboard is usually about 30 minutes before sailing, and your ship posts the exact time. A ship will not wait for passengers touring on their own.
  • Watch the clock: All-aboard is given in ship's time, which may not match the island's clocks or your phone.

Tipping and Currency

The French side uses the euro, but US dollars are commonly accepted on both sides of the island. Some restaurants add a service charge to the bill, so read it before you tip.

  • A service charge may be listed on the bill as Tax or SC, and you can treat that charge as your tip.
  • French-side shops often price goods in euros, so compare carefully if you are used to dollar prices on the Dutch side.

The French Side

Saint-Martin belongs to the European Union, unlike Sint Maarten next door, and Marigot is its seat of government, home to the collectivity's council and the prefecture.

  • Marigot is a duty-free town, where luxury boutiques sit beside small shops.
  • The abolitionist François-Auguste Perrinon is buried in Marigot's cemetery.
  • The two sides use different electricity: 50 Hz on the French side and 60 Hz on the Dutch side.

A Brief History

Marigot grew quickly in the 18th century on the sugar trade and became the main town on France's share of an island that France and the Dutch had agreed to share in 1648. Hurricane Irma in 2017 left deep marks on the town and the island.

  • 1648: The Treaty of Concordia divided the island between France and the Dutch Republic. It set out the principle of sharing without fixing the exact line, and free movement across the island grew from it.
  • 1763: French Saint-Martin was attached to the colony of Guadeloupe for administration.
  • 1781 to 1815: British forces occupied the island several times, in 1781 to 1783, 1794, 1800 and 1810 to 1815.
  • 1789: Under the commander Jean-Sébastien de Durat, Fort Louis, a prison and a bridge were built at Marigot.
  • 1848: When France abolished slavery, enslaved people on the Dutch side set out for the border, and their owners freed them that year.
  • 1851: The military abandoned Fort Louis.
  • 1946: Saint-Martin, with Saint-Barthélemy, became part of the French department of Guadeloupe.
  • 1963 and 1965: Marigot received electricity in 1963, and a seawater desalination plant followed in 1965.
  • 15 July 2007: Saint-Martin left Guadeloupe to become a French overseas collectivity.
  • 6 September 2017: Hurricane Irma struck the island directly, killing eleven people on the French side and destroying or badly damaging 19.7 percent of its buildings.

Marigot with Children

With children, Marigot makes a short, easy day: the market, the walk up to the fort and lunch near the water. Families who want more can join an excursion up to the island's highest viewpoint.

  • Younger children: Walk the waterfront promenade from the Marina Fort Louis to the market, where there is plenty to look at and stops are easy.
  • School age: At Fort Louis, picture the 54 soldiers whose barracks stood here, and look out over the bay the fort was built to protect.
  • Teenagers: Pic du Paradis, at 427 meters the island's highest point, has two viewing areas, but the road up is steep and isolated and needs a four-wheel-drive vehicle, so it is safest on an organized excursion.
  • Choosing a beach: Topless sunbathing is common on French-side beaches, and the Club Orient beach is naturist, which is worth knowing before you choose one with children.
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