Fort Teremba

Fort Teremba was built in the 1870s at a penal settlement on the west coast, part of the system that made New Caledonia a French convict colony for half a century, and it was burned during the 1878 uprising and rebuilt. Volunteers restored it from ruins over decades and run it as a museum covering the penal system, the settlement and the events of 1878. A sound and light performance is staged there each year.

What you actually see

• The restored fort - the 1870s buildings rebuilt from ruin by volunteers.
• The penal displays - the account of the convict system and the settlement.
• The 1878 events - the uprising in which the original fort was burned.
• The annual performance - the sound and light staging held at the site.

When to go

April to November is the dry season. The fort keeps limited opening hours and closes some days. The annual performance is usually in September.

Honest expectations

Opening hours are limited and run by volunteers, so closures happen. Interpretation is almost entirely in French. The site is small and two hours covers it.

Nearby

La Foa is south, and Bourail is north.