Iles Des Saintes cruise port guide

About Iles Des Saintes

Îles des Saintes — universally known as Les Saintes — is a small archipelago within the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, nestled in the heart of the Lesser Antilles. The group comprises two inhabited communes, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, and carries nearly five centuries of layered French and British colonial military history. Christopher Columbus first sighted the islands on 4 November 1493 and named them "Los Santos" in honour of All Saints' Day, a name the French later retained in their own orthography.

Les Saintes rewards visitors with an unusually rich military and archaeological heritage. Fort Napoléon, perched above the main village on Terre-de-Haut, anchors any visit: the former fortress houses artefacts excavated at Anse Rodrigue's Beach — Arawak and Kalinago war axes and pottery dating to the 9th century — alongside exhibits on the storied 1782 Battle of the Saintes, fought in the channel just offshore, in which British Admiral Rodney defeated the French fleet of Comte de Grasse. Chameau Hill, the archipelago's high point at 309 m, is topped by the Modele watchtower, one of several fortifications commissioned by Louis XVI from 1777; the hike rewards with panoramic views across the Guadeloupe Passage. Fort Louis on Mire Hill and Fort de la Reine on the islet of Petite Martinique complete the network. Anse Rodrigue's Beach provides both archaeological context and a natural beach setting.