PLACE DES PALMISTES

When you arrive in Cayenne, you'll be charmed by the square that forms the center of the town. It used to be called Grande Savane, like the square in Fort-de-France in Martinique, before it was developed. At the time, it was covered by a superb English garden, which was sacrificed to accommodate the town's annual festival. In 1822, Governor Laussat ordered trees to be planted. Today, it is adorned with majestic royal palms, some of which are over a hundred years old. Place des Palmistes remains a popular gathering place, bustling with activity during Carnival and in the evenings, when tourists and locals mingle to sample the delicious dishes concocted by the foodtrucks. In 1999, the square was listed as a historic monument.

Statue of Félix Eboué. At its center, since 1957, stands the statue of Félix Eboué, benefactor of French Guiana and governor of French Equatorial Africa in 1940. A staunch humanist who respected the differences of the peoples he administered, he was an effective architect of the decolonization of Africa.

Maison Thémire-Melkior or Bar des Palmistes. On the south side of the square, at 12 avenue du Général-de-Gaulle, you can see this beautiful ^19th-century Creole dwelling, beautifully restored in 2012. Its yellow silhouette with grey roofs and balconies now houses a comfortable hotel and a bar with terrace.

The école maternelle Joséphine Horth, built in the 1910s, is also well worth a visit.