Gingerbread Houses of Port-au-Prince

Between about 1895 and 1925 Port-au-Prince built several hundred timber houses in a style that borrowed steep roofs and fretwork from France and adapted them to the tropics with high ceilings, deep verandas and lattice for airflow. They are known as gingerbread houses. The 2010 earthquake destroyed enormous amounts of the city's concrete but a striking proportion of the gingerbreads stayed up, because timber frames flex where masonry cracks. Many are damaged, some are restored, and a few operate as hotels.

What you actually see

• The fretwork - carved timber trim on verandas, gables and balustrades.
• The verandas - deep shaded galleries wrapping the houses for airflow.
• The Pacot streets - the densest surviving concentration, walked in an afternoon.
• The survivors - houses that stood through 2010 where concrete around them did not.

When to go

November to March is the dry season and the best for walking. Mornings are cooler. Some houses operate as hotels or guesthouses and can be seen from the inside by staying or eating there.

Honest expectations

Most are private homes and are seen from the street only. Many are in poor repair and some have been lost since 2010 to damage and to redevelopment. Walking the district is best arranged with someone local rather than done cold.

Nearby

The MUPANAH museum is down the hill on the Champ de Mars, and Petion-Ville is above.