Most visitors to Martinique head for sun and sand on the island’s southern coast. Those looking for history should consider a tour of La Pagerie, the plantation home of Napoleon’s Empress Joséphine. An old stone cottage at the site houses a museum, and a massive sugarcane processing plant still stands in ruins. Another good sightseeing stop is the nearby La Savane des Esclaves, a museum in a recreated slave village. The exhibits cover not just the island’s connections with the slave trade, but also Martinique traditions and culture. Founder Gilbert Larose is likely to be in the kitchen, showing visitors how to make cassava bread over a fire. A small shop sells crafts and artworks.
