City: Haiti
Top Things to do in Haiti
Top 10 Sights & Landmarks in Haiti, Haiti
Coordinates: 19°00′N 72°25′W / 19.000°N 72.417°W / 19.000; -72.417
Restaurants in Haiti
1. Place D'armes De La Ville Des Gonaives
2. Toussaint Louverture Statue
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By andrewmU2655XD
The Toussaint Louverture statue is located at a busy intersection of three streets when entering the central area of Gonaives. The streets are Route National # 1, Rue Louverture and Rue Lamartiniere. The statue stands atop a three tiered base which is placed in the middle of the street. The lower tier is circular, the second is octagonal and the third is in the shape of a cylinder. The top two tiers are tiled. A plaque on the middle tier states, " Toussaint Louverture, The Precursor of Independence". The sculpture of Toussaint shows him standing with sword hanging to his left. He wears a military jacket which covers his shirt with ruffles, which was the style of that era. He also wears a bandana. I had visited a replica of this statue earlier in the day in Ennery. Toussaint was the precursor of independence, as he led the slave rebellion between 1791-1802. He initially fought against the French, and was supplied arms by the Spanish. In 1794, when France abolished slavery, he switched sides and fought for the French against the English and Spanish forces. By 1800,he had captured most of the island of Hispaniola. He struck a deal with Napoleon, which kept him in power with the promise not to interfere with the eastern section of the island (Dom Rep). In 1801, Toussaint received reports that slavery was still being practiced in the DR, and he invaded and liberated all slaves. In the following year Napoleon sent 20,000 men commanded by his best Generals to retake the island. Toussaint agreed to a peace deal after his top Generals defected to the French. He retired to his farm in Ennery. General Jean-Baptiste Brunet, who was staying in Gonaives, invited Tousaint to a meetingin June 1802, but it was a trick, and Toussaint was arrested. His family and confidants were also betrayed, and all were boarded on the Créole and Héros ships bound for France. Before departing, while shackled in chains, Toussaint made his famous statement to Captain Savari, "In overthrowing me you have cut down in Saint Domingue only the trunk of the tree of liberty; it will spring up again from the roots, for they are numerous and they are deep". On arrival in France, 50 of his supporters were sent to Corsica and 20 to Cayenne. Toussaunt was transferred to to Fort-de-Joux in the French Alps, where he died in April 1803. His remains were interred at this site. His imprisonment did not affect the outcome of the Hatian revolution, as Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti independent on 1 January 1804. The site of Toussaint's arrest is a 10 minute drive to Pont Gaudin, on a small farm near Riviere la Quinte. Ennery is a 30 km drive north west of Gonaives, and has a marker for the site of Tousaint's house and a museum dedicated to his life and the struggle for independence. This statue is a must see in Gonaives. Other statues of independence leaders include the Alexandre Petion statue, a short drive east, and Jaques Dessalines statue in Independence Park, a short walk west.
3. The Citadelle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 420 reviews
Reviewed By ArmyRangeratMIT - Wayne, United States
Up on the north side of the country in Cap Haitien lies the greatest architecture feat in the country- the immense Citadelle fortress built by the French to protect the area.. with no guard rails or fences, you can easily fall 2000 feet to your death if you lean too far over the edge so be careful! It takes a good healthy walk up the switchback path, and the locals have a way of cutting straight up to set up vendor tables when they hear people are coming and see vehicles approaching. Amazing! A couple thousand men lost their lives erecting the unfinished structure up on top of the highest peak, and you can see for miles! Afterwards head to Cormier Plage beach or Labadie resort up in the coast!
4. Fort des Anglais
5. National History Park - Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers
6. Fort des Oliviers
7. Papillon Enterprise
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
Papillon Enterprises is a socially & ecologically conscious business with a mission of stimulating the Haitian economy by selling and marketing Haitian artisan goods. We offer a beautiful and safe shopping experience with a variety of locally made products. Grab a fresh made smoothie, or coffee drink while you shop.
Reviewed By Daveycp
This is a really cool place - they give you a tour of the facilities where the workers are making crafts. The work all supports single parents so that they don’t have to give their kids up for adoption. Beautiful pottery, paper beads, stuffed animals and more. Social entrepreneurship at its best! Did all of our souvenir shopping here.
8. 500 marches Medaille Miraculeuse
9. Cathedral of Saint Louis Roi of France
10. Sans Souci Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By RonandJeanneB - Minsk, Belarus
On the edge of the village of Milot, you usually visit here on the way to the Citadelle. Although ruined now, enough remains to be inspired by the story behind its creation and destruction. It was built by a former back slave who aimed to show her was the equal of any white, European ruler--and he largely succeeded! In its time it would have been the equal of anything in Europe.
