Schoelcher, Martinique

Schoelcher (“Shell-Shay”) is a quaint little town on the west coast of Martinique near the capital city of Fort-du-France. The city was named after Victor Schoelcher, a French abolitionist who was instrumental in ending slavery. He gave birth to a new republic movement in the Caribbean colonies and was elected as deputy of Martinique’s National Assembly in 1848. The town was renamed from Case-Navire to Schoelcher in honor of his contributions to the island. The city continues to celebrate its freedom from slavery with murals, statues, and colorful cultural festivals.

Schoelcher offers a variety of landscapes and activities, with tourism being the main draw. Its beaches, dive sites, sports center, and variety of restaurants invite people to visit. Plage de Madiana is the main highlight of the city, a beautiful white sandy beach near the main dock. It is lined with coconut palm trees, providing natural umbrellas for beachgoers. The waters are a beautiful turquoise blue and there are several small bistros and snack shacks along the beach.

The Arawaks Plaza contains a basketball court, bowling alley, and park. Schoelcher is also home to the Nautical Center, offering a sailing school, racing team, and kayaks for rent. During our stay, we watched sailing races from our boat and cheered people on as they tacked back and forth in the 15-knot winds.

Schoelcher is a nice place to anchor for a couple of days. There is only a small convenience store, so it’s not practical for a long-term stay, unless one takes a taxi or a bus to Fort-du-France for provisions. However, the anchorage is large, comfortable, and mostly protected from swells, and it’s a great place for cruisers to stop while working their way up or down the west coast of Martinique. We particularly enjoyed the French cuisine at Boule de Neige, the beautiful white sand beach, strolling through the charming town, and swimming in clear waters off the back of our boat. We would definitely stop here again on our way back north!