Must See Guadeloupe - Pointe-a-Pitre

Bustling Pointe-à-Pitre is a mix of old and new: largely commercial in appearance, it's peppered with colonial architecture and West Indian flavour. The city began as a fish market at the edge of the harbour in 1654, and is now Guadeloupe's largest city as well as its economic centre.

Destroyed on several occasions by earthquakes, fires and hurricanes, Point-à-Pitre can't boast any architectural unity, and doesn't charm at first glance. However, the city's streets do reveal a number of colonial or traditional houses and a window into the island's past.

The city began as a fish market at the edge of the harbour in 1654, and there's still a lively and colourful open-air public market running along La Darse, the inner harbour. Women wearing madras cloth turbans sell island fruit, vegetables, flowers, pungent spices, handicrafts and clothing while boats along the dock sell fresh fish.