Case Pilote, the Authentic Village

His father-in-law drops us off at Pointe du Bout—the spot where we spend our mornings at the beach—so we can catch the shuttle that will take us to Fort-de-France, where we’ll transfer to a bus bound for Case Pilote.

We find out once we get there that the last shuttle of the day leaves at 1:30 p.m., with the next one not until the evening. We take our time strolling through the narrow streets near the harbor and picking up a few things for our picnic while we wait for our early-afternoon departure.
Our connecting shuttle arrived a little late; these shuttles never stay more than a few minutes before leaving again. The fare ranges from 5 to 7 euros, depending on the route.
We’re alone on this somewhat choppy ride, and we pass by Schoelcher as we head a little further north on the island.

As soon as we arrive, we set out to explore this authentic Martinique village before settling down at the black-sand beach to eat and finally take a dip in the refreshing water of this beautiful spot.

The air is very hot and the sun is scorching.
It’s worth noting that Case-Pilote takes its name from the Caribbean chief nicknamed Pilote. Having settled in the area long before colonization, he welcomed the French who wished to settle in the Case-Pilote area—more specifically, in Rivière Pilote. Case-Pilote is, in fact, one of the oldest colonized villages in Martinique.

Between 1640 and 1645, a church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin was built; it is the oldest on the island and is now classified as a historic monument.

Around 1660, Case-Pilote had 777 inhabitants, the majority of whom were slaves. It stretched from Case-Navire (Schoelcher) to Bellefontaine and part of Morne Vert. Today, Bellefontaine is part of the canton.

We finally end our day at a bar, relaxing on canopy beds on the beach as we watch the sunset. A moment straight out of a postcard.

At 5:30 p.m., we hop on the shuttle to head back to Fort-de-France and then to Pointe du Bout.
Tomorrow will be a half-day hike through the Pétrifications. I’ll give you more details then.

Signed, your devoted Ninve