Saint-Georges-de-l'Oyapock

Saint-Georges sits on the Oyapock river facing Oiapoque in Brazil, and since 2017 a large cable-stayed bridge has linked the two banks, the only road crossing between France and Brazil anywhere. The bridge took years to open after it was built and the pirogues that always crossed the river kept working through it all, which says something about the border here. The town is Creole, Palikur and Brazilian at once.

Background

A penal colony set up on 23 April 1853 gave rise to the town, which took its name from a Saint George coin of Dutch origin that turned up at the site. The camp closed in 1863, but gold found on the Camopi River in 1885 brought the hamlet back to life, and official town status came in 1947. In Creole it is Senjòrj and in Portuguese São Jorge do Oiapoque. The commune covers 2320 square kilometres and is home to about 500 Palikur. The mean yearly temperature is 26.9 °C, rain averages 3312.4 mm a year with May the wettest month, and the highest reading on record is 37.0 °C, set on 22 October 2015.

Source: Wikipedia, "Saint-Georges, French Guiana"

What's there

• The Oyapock bridge - the only road link between France and Brazil.
• The pirogue crossings - the boats that still carry most of the traffic.
• The river front - Brazil visible across the water from the quay.
• The mixed town - Creole, Palikur and Brazilian communities together.

When to go

July to November is the dry season. The river is the town's life year round. Border formalities apply for crossing in either direction.

Before you go

The town itself is small and scruffy and the interest is the border and the river. Crossing to Brazil needs papers in order both ways. The drive from Cayenne is long for a day trip.

Nearby

Saut Maripa is upstream, and Cayenne is northwest.

Key facts