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Plaza · Caiena, Caiena
Place des Palmistes
Caiena's central square, with about 3 hectares of lawn and imperial palms, the statue of Félix Éboué and surrounding creole houses. At night, food stalls gather around the edges.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Place des Palmistes
The Place des Palmistes is the main square of Caiena and the starting point for exploring the old center. It covers about 3 hectares and was opened in 1821, when the city walls were demolished and the land, then a scrub field called "la Savane", began to be urbanized. The name came a few years later, with the planting of imperial palms brought from Guisanbourg.
The tall, slender palms are the city's best-known image. In the center of the square stands the statue of Félix Éboué, a governor born in Caiena, installed in 1957 in place of an old fountain, and there is also the Column of the Republic, dating from 1890. The concrete channels that cut across the lawn were made in 1925 to drain rainwater, which used to flood the square in the wet season.
Around it, the wooden creole houses, with verandas and shuttered windows, show the city's traditional architecture. On one side is the manor of the Museu Alexandre-Franconie; a few steps away are the Joséphine-Horth school, the city's first public school, and Lallouette street, which cuts the square in half.
The square is full of life in the late afternoon, when locals take advantage of the shade and the food stalls begin to set up. It is the simplest place to try sandwiches, skewers and dishes with Asian and creole influences without leaving the center.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 40 minutes to cross the square and see the surrounding houses; at night, enough time for a dinner at the stalls.
Best time
Early morning, with soft light on the palms, or late afternoon, when the square fills up and the food stalls open. Avoid midday, when the sun is strong and there is little shade.
How to get there
It is located in the center of Caiena, between avenue du Général-de-Gaulle and the fort neighborhood. From the central market it's about a 10-minute walk; from Place Léopold-Héder, less than 5.
Tip
Combine the square with the Museu Alexandre-Franconie, which sits on one edge, and the climb to Forte Cépérou in the late afternoon. On the way back, have dinner at the stalls in the square itself.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Place des Palmistes
Why is the square called Place des Palmistes?
Because of the royal palms planted there a few years after the square opened, in 1821. Before that, the site was a scrub field known as "la Savane".
Who is the statue in the middle of the square?
It is Félix Éboué, born in Caiena in 1884, who was a colonial governor and the first Black person to govern a French colony. The statue was installed in 1957.
Can you eat at the Place des Palmistes at night?
Yes. In the late afternoon food stalls set up around the edges of the square and stay open at night, offering snacks and dishes with Creole and Asian influences. Days and hours vary; check locally.
What is near the square?
The Musée Alexandre-Franconie, on one edge; the Place Léopold-Héder and the climb to Forte Cépérou a few minutes away; and the Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur and the central market, about a 10-minute walk.