Fort-de-France

views updated May 17 2018

Fort-de-France Capital of the French overseas department of Martinique, on Fort-de-France Bay. First settled in the 17th century, it remained undeveloped until the beginning of the 20th century, when a volcanic eruption destroyed St. Pierre, Martinique's commercial centre. It is now a popular tourist resort. Exports: sugar cane, rum, cacao. Pop. (1999) 94,152.