La Désirade

Introduction

La Désirade is a Caribbean island and part of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. It's located east of the main island, Grande Terre.

Geography

The island of La Désirade is located at the eastern end of Guadeloupe island group, in the Lesser Antilles. It lies about 8 km off the coast of Grande-Terre, which is the eastern half of the island of Guadeloupe. Its coordinates are 16°19′N 61°3′WCoordinates: 16°19′N 61°3′W.

The island is 11 kilometres long and 2 kilometres wide; the interior of the island forms a central plateau.[3] It has a land area of 20.64 km2 and a population of 1,595 in 2006, with a population density of 77 per km². Most residents live in the settlement of Beauséjour (formerly known as Grande-Anse).

Geologically speaking, La Désirade is the oldest island in the Lesser Antilles with its most ancient rocks, at 145 million years old, being found at the easternmost point of the island. The beach at Pointe Doublé is frequently visited by geologists who come to examine the basalt and composite rocks, which give the area its striking multi-coloured appearance. The island has its own lapidary, which transforms the rocks found on the island into jewellery and souvenirs.

Settlements

• Beauséjour - The main settlement on the island is the village of Beauséjour, which has a Post Office, a library, several grocery stores and restaurants, as also the community’s church, which is famous for its altar carved out of locally grown pear tree wood. The central square of the village is named ‘La Place du Maire mendiant’ (‘The begging Mayor’s square’), in memory of a beloved local figure. The ‘begging Mayor’ was the nickname given to a former Mayor, Joseph Daney de Marcillac, who, after a terrible fire had destroyed most of the village in 1922, went from door to door in Guadeloupe begging for funds and building materials in order to rebuild the two primary schools of the village. Close to the square, one can find a statue of the French abolitionist Victor Schœlcher, as also a monument in memory of the fishermen who perished at sea and the town hall, built in the style of architect Ali Tur.
• Anse de Galets - This small bay is situated at the westernmost tip of the island, facing the Pointe des châteaux. Providing the departure point for the colonisation of the island, this cove was also home to all those who were exiled in the 18th Century.[6]

Events and Festivals

La Desirade Goat Festival

Held in April, this event is a fashion show for goats. The animals are fit for fancy dresses that are normally worn by humans. Participants can also sample goat dishes cooked in a variety of ways.

Sailor's Commemorative Ceremony

The annual Sailors’ Commemorative Ceremony is held on 16 August. A large procession is taken out, in which the ‘Le Vétéran’, a model boat normally kept in the town’s church (Notre Dame de l’Assomption), is paraded all around Beauséjour. Though the ceremony itself is only for a day, the days leading up to and following it are normally festive too, with parades and parties. People from all over Guadeloupe and France come over to the island to partake in the event.

Weather

La Désirade has a hot and humid tropical climate with average daytime temperatures throughout the year of 30 °C and average nights around 23 °C. Most rain falls between June and October with a change of hurricanes from August onwards. Therefore, the drier (and slightly cooler) December to April period is the best time to visit weather wise. Unfortunately prices rise sharply during this period and the months of November and May still have good weather. So budget wise these latter months may be a good option as well.

Getting There

By Boat

There are daily regular ferries to Grande Anse from Grande Terre with Le Colibri. You can contact them at 357947 in Port de Peche. Iguana is another ferry operator between several islands, including connections between Marie-Galante and La Desirade.

Eat

The island is renowned for its fresh seafood, much of which goes straight from the fishing boats to the local restaurants. Furthermore, the lobsters and shellfish which are plentiful on Désirade are becoming increasingly rare in Guadeloupe as a whole. There are also many traditional goat recipes, including curries and stews, which make up a large part of the island's cuisine. As for desserts, the cashew fruit is a particular speciality which can be consumed on its own, with ice-cream or in rum-based drinks.

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