Tourist information:

Nestled 450 meters above sea level in the north of Martinique, the town of Morne-Rouge boasts a commanding view of St. Peter and its bay. Its location between the high peaks of Mount Pelee Island and Pitons du Carbet, giving it the status of the highest town of the island. It enjoys a unique climate, suitable for the cultivation of pineapple and lush tropical vegetation.
If the city has no direct access to the sea, it is turned towards nature and is the starting point for many hikes.

History
Le Morne-Rouge is named after the word "Morne" which means "little mountain" and the red volcanic stone.

Originally, Le Morne-Rouge neighborhood formed the "levels" of St. Peter from which it depended administratively. The first settlers to occupy the territory were Dutch people. They were followed in 1654 by Jews from Brazil. In the following century, Germans, Alsatians and Acadines settled on the site.

Le Morne-Rouge became a parish in 1851 and became a town in January 1889 when it was separated from St. Peter.

Two years later, the pelean town suffered a series of natural disasters. It became a martyr town:
- a devastating cyclone in 1891;
- May 30, 1902, during the second eruption of Mount Pelee, Le Morne-Rouge is totally destroyed. 1000 people died.
- In 1930, the volcano threatened again and the town was then evacuated.
- In memory of the victims of the volcano, a monument was erected at the exit of the village.

Today, in Le Morne-Rouge the main economic activity is farming with the cultivation of bananas, pineapple and flowers.

To do / To see

The Volcano House: this information and documentation center on volcanology recalls the different eruptions of Mount Pelée and reveals all its secrets.
Program of the visit: the video library on eruptions, seismic station, geographical aquariums and thematic exhibitions.

MacIntosh Plantation: This Anthurium plantation which is in the middle of a botanical garden and a tropical forest, was created in 1978. The place houses an outstanding collection of species and colors.

The House of Nature (NFB): nestled in beautiful surroundings, the House of Nature occupies most of the Departmental Domain Estripault. It hosts a reception building with exhibition halls, a meeting room and an forest area which can be discovered with more than 3 kilometers of marked trails.

Le Morne-Rouge is the starting point for many hikes: the St. Cecilia circuit (5 hours), Piton Gelé (2 hours), the ascent of Mount Pelée by the Aileron (5 hours), walks on the Jesuit Traces (5 hours) ...