Cayenne

Cayenne reveals itself through a variety of discoveries: the history of Place des Palmistes, Creole houses in the historic centre, changing exhibitions and a covered market offering a wide range of food and products. This allows you to tailor your stay to your own interests—with a stroll and historical details, a visit to cultural exhibitions or a look at the city’s culinary offerings.

Place des Palmistes and its history

Place des Palmistes has had several historical names. For a long time, it was called Grande Savane, before being renamed Place de l'Esplanade in 1821. Its features also give the square a distinctive character: these include the Marianne statue, known as Reine Charlotte, the Chanel columns and the Félix-Éboué monument. Place des Palmistes and these features were listed as historic monuments on 9 March 1999. Those interested in the history of a place will find both a documented sequence of names and named features that form part of the protected ensemble.

A walk through Cayenne’s historic centre takes you to Place des Palmistes and also lets you discover Creole houses. This combination makes the walk a way to appreciate the square not in isolation, but alongside the architecture of the centre. Look out for the different details: the square’s changing names, its named monuments and features, and the Creole houses that complement the walk.

Changing exhibitions at the Musée des Cultures Guyanaises

The Musée des Cultures Guyanaises holds one or two temporary exhibitions a year in its building at 78 rue Madame Payé. The subjects vary. If you want to experience culture in Cayenne, you can make the museum a focus of your day’s plans; the changing themes make each exhibition a different way to explore the city from a walk through the historic centre. If a particular exhibition is important to your plans, check in advance what is on display.

Food and products at the covered market

Cayenne’s market is located in a large covered market hall in the city centre. Specialities on offer include local Ti’punch, Laotian soups and Poulet boucané. There are also exotic fruits, spices and vegetables. The selection therefore ranges from prepared dishes and drinks to a variety of products, making a visit to the market interesting even if you simply want to look around at first.

These examples offer different points of interest for anyone curious about food in Cayenne: you can try the soups and Poulet boucané mentioned, or focus on the fruits, spices and vegetables. The market is distinct from both a museum visit and a historical walk: it takes you into a covered market hall in the city centre, while the walk connects Place des Palmistes with Creole houses.

Plan your stay around your interests

When planning, it helps to decide what you want to focus on. If you mainly want to discover the city’s history, a walk through the historic centre, taking in Place des Palmistes and the Creole houses, is a good starting point. If you are interested in changing cultural themes, consider including the Musée des Cultures Guyanaises in your plans. If food and market products are more of a priority, the covered market is a destination in its own right; it is located in the city centre.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Cayenne, start with this priority: which of these discoveries do you want to shape your days most? Base your thinking about location on your personal plans, rather than treating city history, exhibitions and a market visit as one and the same experience. This way, your choice of where to stay is connected to what you actually want to do in Cayenne.

For the broader travel overview: French Guiana.