Paris of the Antilles
A brief history
During the mid-1700s, Cap-Haitien (also known as Le Cap and Okap) was reported to have been France’s wealthiest colonial city. It was famous for its beautiful architecture and was, accordingly, dubbed the Paris of the Antilles. Cap-Haïtien, originally called Cap Francais and then Cap Christophe, is the second largest city in Haiti, currently approaching to one million people
Location
Is it located on the north coast of Haiti and it is the capital of the Nord department. Due to its proximity to wide Caribbean beaches to its northwest, Cap-Haitien has traditionally been a resort and vacation destination for many vacationers.
The central area of the city is located between the Bay of Cap-Haitien to the east, and nearby mountainsides to the west. A popular destination on Cap Haitien is the Citadelle and Sans Souci. The view offered by La Citadelle is very impressive and breathtaking: Cuba can be spotted on a clear day.
Cap-Haïtien is known as the nation’s largest center of historic monuments; it is a tourist destination.
The calm water of the bay, picturesque Caribbean beaches and monuments have made it a resort and vacation destination for Haïti’s upper classes, comparable to Pétionville. Cap-Haïtien has also attracted more international tourists, as it has been isolated from the political instability in the south of the island. American Airlines operates daily flights to Cap Haitien.
It has a wealth of French colonial architecture, which has been well preserved. During and after the Haitian Revolution, many craftsmen from Cap-Haïtien, who were free people of color, fled to French-controlled New Orleans. As a result, the two cities share many similarities in styles of architecture. Especially notable are the gingerbread houses lining the city’s older streets.