Manley BELIZAIRE - January 2023
Cap-Haïtien Old Houses Edition
TRAVELING IN HAITI : VISIT CAP HAÏTIEN While most travelers heading to Haiti are likely to make Port-au-Prince their primary destination, there’s another city in the country that’s well worth a visit. Cap Haïtien is Haiti’s second-largest town, a port city on the north shore, and an important center for culture, history, and art. The History of Cap Haïtien Cap Haïtien was originally the capital of Haiti, back when it was a French colony known as Saint Domingue. After this, Cap Haïtien became the capital of the newly independent Haiti. The capital would not be moved to its current location in Port-au-Prince until 1820. However, Cap Haïtien still retains its status as an important urban center for Haiti, both for business and for pleasure. Getting There Cap Haïtien has its own airport, Hugo Chavez International Airport. You can fly into Cap Haïtien from either Port-au-Prince or via the United States. There are several airlines that service the city from Florida. You also have the option to fly into the Dominican Republic and then travel into the city by car. What to See Once You’re There The historical architecture in Cap Haïtien is renowned. The city’s history as a French colony means that there’s plenty of French colonial architecture to be found, similar to what you might see in New Orleans. However, while New Orleans has modernized in many ways, leaving its French colonial history in the past, Cap Haïtien still has its similar history proudly on display in many neighborhoods, particularly the downtown areas. Further, when it comes to history, Cap Haïtien is your starting point to visit Haiti’s UNESCO World Heritage sites of Sans Souci Palace and the Citadelle Henri Christophe. These sites include palace ruins and the renovated castle, both very important structures to the country’s history as a whole. Both sites played a role in the faction between the two rulers of the newly freed Haiti in 1804 when Alexandre Petion claimed southern Haiti for himself and Henri Christophe declared ownership of northern Haiti. Sans Souci became known as “the Versailles of the Caribbean.” Cap Haïtien’s natural beauty is also not to be missed. There are many beaches within the area, easily reachable by foot. Labadee Beach is particularly popular, as it happens to be a stopping point on many a Royal Caribbean cruise itinerary. You don’t have to be a cruise passenger to visit the beautiful Labadee Beach, though. Royal Caribbean will allow entry to other travelers for a fee. Other beautiful beaches include Cormier Plage and Belli Beach. Of course, one way to get to know Cap Haïtien is simply by walking around. You’ll discover marketplaces with handcrafts, clothing, artwork, and lots of local food, ranging from fried plantains to barbecue [...] Source : https://restavekfreedom.org/blog/ Published on April 29th 2019
Numbers rue 1: rue du Pont rue 2: rue Morgon rue 3: rue Rohan rue 4: rue Saint-Nicolas rue 5: rue de la Boucherie rue 6: rue des Trois-Visages rue 7: rue du Chantier rue 8: rue du Hazard rue 9: rue de la Vielle-Jouaillerie rue 10: rue du Canard rue 11: rued. Trois-Chandeliers rue 12: rue Taranne rue 14: rue Saint-Simon rue 15: rue du Cimetière rue 16, rue des Religieuses rue 17: rue François-Xavier & Chatenoy rue 18: rue Notre-Dame rue 19: rue rue Sainte-Marie & de la Fon-
Correspondence between the new and old names
During the American Occupation of Haiti in 1915, the streets of Cap-Haïtien were renamed. Those that are perpendicular to the sea get a number, those that are parallel to it get a letter. But Cap-Haïtien still preserves the names of streets from French colonization.
Streets of Cap-Haïtien
Letters A: quai Saint-Louis or cours Brasseur B: rue Neuve C: rue de la Pointe & du Renard D: rue du Gouvernement & de Marbois E: rue Penthièvre F: rue Dauphine & de Saint-Domingue G: rue Fermée et du Palais H: rue d’Anjou & du Morne des Capucins I: rue Vaudreuil J: cours Villeverd hors la ville & rue Royale K: rue Saint-Louis L: rue du Marmouset M: rue Saint-Sauveur & de l’Ours N: rue Sainte-Sophie & du Lion O: rue Saint-Jacques & du Chat P: rue des Vierges & du Pet-au-Diable Q: rue Saint-Avoie
taine rue 20: rue Bourbon & Conflans rue 21: de la Providence & Saint-Laurent rue 22: rue Saint-Michel rue 23: rue Saint-Pierre rue 24: rue du Conseil rue 13: rue Saint-Joseph
Created in 1938, the Alliance Française du Cap-Haïtien is an association that promotes the French language, cultural diversity and francophone cultures. The Alliance Française of Cap-Haitien gives in its programming a special place to young Haitian artists. Various free cultural events are offered: film screenings, painting exhibitions, theatre, singing and dance shows. In addition, evening conferences on the theme of civil society are organized at least once a month. Rue 15-16 B Rue Sainte Marie & de la Fontaine the colors of a place can leave a lasting imprint on our travel memories. This beautiful house is located on the corner of Rue 19 & Rue K.
Colorful streets of Cap Haitien. This city is known for its beautiful architecture. Rue Du Cimetière.
“Kay Man Laurin” Madame Carmel Liataud Laurin trained several generations of Capoise in this school that she directed for 50 years. She had become one of the most prestigious schools in the city it’s for this reason that the people of Cap-Haïtien had nicknamed this school ‘Kay Man Laurin’ Rue 18 E
The Monereau House was set on fire in 1988. Now rebuilt by the Menard family who converted into a restaurant located at the corner of Rue 18F known as A & J
Taking a walk along the streets of the city is an incredible experience. Cap-Haitien is a very lively and active city that has preserved its heritage and all its charm, for more than 300 years. One of the best ways to see the beauty of this beautiful colonial city is to admire the sunset through the streets. Rue Saint-Michel
Former local of Martin Luther King College on Rue 20 founded in 1967 by a former English teacher Mr. Roland Prophète. Every students love him because he was a very disciplined and very fun teacher. He also trained several generations of Capoise in this institution
Robert Cox House. This house belonged to Robert Cox or “Ti Paulette”. A former Officer of the VSN (Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale) At Rue 17. J & K in CapHaitien during the Duvalier government. At that time everyone was afraid to frequent this street because of the “Tonton Macoute”. Robert Cox was the direct plenipotentiary representative of Jean-Claude Duvalier. In the 80s, the Kindergarten of Saint Martin De Porres was located in this House by Mrs. Immacula Lamothe. House Mrs. Jacques Beliard. This House belonged to Mrs. Jacques Beliard. Around 1978 she had rented this house to the Dugue family. In the same year, the Dugue family opened a hotel and a bar restaurant in this house that was very well known in the city. It was nicknamed ‘De A a Z Hôtel Bar Restaurant’ and was located at Rue 20H. The hotel lived in this building for 19 years. Then the Duque family closed it in 1997. This Hotel remains engraved in the memory of several generations.
Maison Barrella. Mrs. Anne Marie Amary “Man Roro” was a mother very well known in Cap Haitien for her courage as a widow mother seeking to ensure the future of her children with dignity and for her militancy within the Catholic Church. She was the mother of Dr. Rodolphe Barrella and Dick Barrella, a businessman, two capois well known for their contribution and integration into the city of Cap-Haitien. Outside the house you can see the portrait of Dr. Rodolphe Barrella who died on February 21, 2021. He was an unconditional fan of the great Northern Haitian orchestra Septentrional. Rue Saint Joseph
“La Maison De Rony Bony” Mr. Rony Bony, was a former professor and secretary general of the University of “Notre-Dame d’Haïti in Cap-Haïtien. We cannot forget this character who has contributed so much to the progress of the youth of the city. This house is made of wood, gingerbread style, an architectural style originated in Haiti at the end of the 19th century. This house is located at Rue Saint Louis.
‘La Maison Desroches Desroches” is a house located next to the “Place d’Armes” corner of Rue 20-F. It’s an old Colonial Architecture house of Cap-Haitien with Jacobins dormers also called two-sided skylight or trestle skylight. It was the family home of the famous Haitian poet Oswald Durand. The roof is entirely made of slate. Slate roofs of this kind are very rare in Cap Haitien. They’re found on houses from the late 19th century.
Mont Joli Hotel Was founded in 1954 by Yvette and Walter Bussenius. The hotel was once the family home of the Bussenius family. In 1940, after the American occupation. Walter Busssenius moved to Cap-Haitien with his family. In 1954, his wife Yvette Bussenius transformed the family home into a 6 bedroom guest room. After his son Walter Bussenius joined it in the early 1970s with his Stepdaughter Marie-Christine; changed the hotel to 42 rooms. In 2003, Nicolas Bussenius, Walter’s son, became the owner of this beautiful hotel in the third generation.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l’Assomption. This magnificent church was built in 1670. When the city (Cap-Français) was founded. In 1842, an earthquake seriously affected the church and was therefore renovated between 1941 and 1942.
The Altieri house was built by François-Ma-
rie Altieri in the 19th century after marrying & Marie-Joseph Altagrace Alice Praderes. The Altieri house is located on “Rue du Quai”, (Rue 16-17 A and B). It was the largest mall in the city and even in Haiti. François-Marie Altieri died in Corsica in 1943. The Altieri house is now part of the architectural heritage of Cap Haitien. It was restored in the early 2000s by the initiative of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), the current owner of the building.
Rue François-Xavier & Chatenoy These superb murals have been made by several graffiti artists, their works are undoubtedly very original and with a lot of details it is one of the most beautiful mural works in the city.
House of General Nord Alexis, former president of the country from 1902 to 1908. This red brick house is located at Rue 16F. Victorian-style houses of this type were mostly used by the elite and were very rare in the city.
Rue 24B, and the amazing connection between the buildings and the street.
Creole cottage houses in Cap-Haïtien. Cottages are known for their distinct architectural style. They are small homes, intended to house a single family. Those one look like the Shotgun Houses in New Orleans
The Iron Market, also named Cluny Market or Central Market, which can be compared with its cousins from Port-au-Prince and Jacmel, is located at Place Cluny, and formerly housed the slave market. Inaugurated in 1764, he suffered some outrages of time and deserved a refreshing blow. It contains everything: food, clothing and objects of everyday life.
Boulevard du Cap-Haitien Built in 1954 by President Paul Eugène Magloire, the Boulevard du Cap is 2 kilometers long and 12 meters wide. This boulevard also bears witness to this city’s heroic past. Indeed, from rue 19 to rue 24 we found the Count Destaing fountain, the old defensive ramparts of the 19th century. And in the 1960s there was a children’s playground. Nowadays tourists can admire the old captaincy and buy souvenirs at the tourist market. And in the evening, the Boulevard becomes the falling point for all residents and tourists, as it is the hub of the city’s best restaurants and dance bars.
Works cited Blog Restavek Freedom “TRAVELING IN HAITI : VISIT CAP HAÏTIEN” https://restavekfreedom.org/2019/04/29/traveling-in-haiti-visit-cap-haitien/ 1map “Carte de Cap-Haïtien, Haïti” https://1map.com/fr/maps/haiti/cap-haitien-46958 Laurent Quevilly “Les rues du Cap-Haïtien” https://villeducaphaitien.com/signe-cap-haitien/36-figures-capoises/170-le-l%C3%A9gendaire-joe-cannel-du-cap-wilfrid-suprena Mareus.J Design Photography https://www.instagram.com/mareus.jdesign/ Historic Haïti “Historique de la ville du Cap-Haïtien” https://www.historic-haiti.com/historique-de-la-ville-du-cap-haitien/
Manley BELIZAIRE Port-au-Prince, Haiti belizairemanley@gmail.com
2023