Must See Attractions in Haiti - Cap Haitien

Citadelle Fortress & Sans Souci - Henri Christophe’s UNESCO Sites

Jul 5, 2009 James W. Coates

Traveling to Haiti takes more patience and time than other Caribbean destinations, but culturally, there's much to discover in Cap Haitien in the country's north.

Adventure seekers brave enough to discover Haiti must pencil in a day to explore former Haitian King Henri Christophe’s elaborate military fortress known simply as the Citadelle as well as his ruined palace, Sans Souci – modeled after Versailles.

Henri Christophe’s Citadelle Fortress

Haitian Revolution leader Henri Christophe, after winning independence from France, declared himself king in 1811 and began building a military fortress called La Citadelle.

It took Christophe nearly 15 years and 20, 000 men to complete his immense mountaintop fortress looming over the nearby town of Cap Haitien.

Built to resemble a ship, its purpose was to defend the area against another French invasion. However, despite impenetrable 4m thick walls that reach heights of up to 40m, the French never invaded the area again and the fortress was eventually abandoned.

Haitians call this UNESCO World Heritage Site the 8th World Wonder, but it’s a wonder anyone gets to visit the fortress at all. If the hour long drive from Cap Haitien on one of the worst dirt roads in the country doesn't deter, the 45 minute climb up the steep mountain to La Citadelle just might.

Travelers in less good shape should consider renting a horse in the parking lot near Sans Souci. Tons of would-be guides surround visitors as they arrive - bargain hard as they ask outrageous prices for services.

Given it’s location on the top of the mountain, views from La Citadelle make the less than glamorous trip up worth it. However, this high altitude is also prone to bouts of bad weather.

Don’t let a bit of rain ruin a visit. In foggy or wet weather La Citadelle takes on a Frankensteinian atmosphere, shrouding the fortress in a mist of creepiness and adding another layer of mystery to Henri Christophe’s immense fortress.

Discovering Haiti’s Ruined Palace of Sans Souci

Located 20 km south of Cap Haitien, Sans Souci was completed in 1813. Designed to rival Versailles in France, visitors need some imagination to visualize this once glorious UNESCO protected site.

Completely looted after the fall of Christophe, what vandals didn’t destroy, the devastating earthquake of 1842 finished off.

As Haiti’s most famous ruin, its well worth the trek over the bone-rattling road to get to the palace. A marvel of construction, the immense bricks were fused together using a mixture of sugar cane syrup, cow blood, cow skins and sand. Now stripped of all decoration, the ruins have returned to their original colors of yellow and black.

From inside the Salle du Roi, where Christophe killed himself, the "Tree of Justice", where the royal tribunal court once delivered decisions, now judges in silence. The abandoned surrounding gardens once catered to royalty, adorned by beautiful fountains, pools and busts. Today, however, only one remains - the "Goddess of Comedy".

To get a better idea of the place, hire a local guide outside the entrance, but bargain hard. At the time of print there were no entrance tickets, though guides try to sell them.

Also remember that each guide has an aunt or a sister who sells local handicrafts nearby. Be prepared for this last stop on the tour of Sans Souci.

How to Get to Cap Haitien

Tortug' Air (509 -2250-2555) and Caribintair (509 -2262-2300) offer daily flights to Cap Haitien from Port-au-Prince. Land transportation between the two cities is very difficult and not recommended.

Traveling around Haiti takes a huge dosage of patience and time but viewing the ruins of the Citadelle and Sans Souci in Cap Haitien makes the trip worth every bump in the road.

The copyright of the article Must See Attractions in Haiti - Cap Haitien in Latin Am/Caribbean Travel is owned by James W. Coates. Permission to republish Must See Attractions in Haiti - Cap Haitien in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Sans Souci - Cap Haitien, Haiti	Sans Souci - Cap Haitien, Haiti	La Citadelle - Cap Haitien, Haiti
La Citadelle - Cap Haitien, Haiti	La Citadelle - Cap Haitien, Haiti