Marchand-Dessalines

Marchand, later Marchand-Dessalines, was made the capital by Jean-Jacques Dessalines in 1804 and fortified accordingly: a ring of works on the hills around the town, of which Fort Décidé, Fort Innocent and Fort Fin du Monde are the ones people climb to. The capital moved away within a few years and the town shrank back to what it is now, a quiet Artibonite settlement with an unusual amount of early nineteenth-century military engineering on the ridges above it.

What you'll find

• Fort Decide - the most accessible of the hilltop works above the town.
• The ring of forts - several fortifications on the surrounding heights, walked between.
• The town - a small Artibonite settlement on the plain below.
• The valley view - the Artibonite spread out from the ridge tops.

When to go

November to March is the dry season; the Artibonite is very hot from April. Early morning is the only comfortable time for the climbs. Independence day in January brings ceremonies to the town.

What to expect

The forts are reached on foot up steep unshaded tracks and a guide is needed to find them. They are unrestored and without interpretation. The town has no facilities for visitors.

Nearby

Saint-Marc is on the coast southwest, and the Palace of 365 Doors is south at Petite-Riviere.