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Cayenne

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Cayenne is the capital and prefecture of French Guiana.

MairiedeCayenne
MairiedeCayenne

It is an overseas region and department of France. This city is located in South America on the Atlantic coast. It sits on a former island at the mouth of the Cayenne River. Cayenne is notable for being the largest Francophone city on the South American continent. Its official motto is "fert aurum industria," which translates to "work brings wealth."

Cayenne, Gouvernance
Cayenne, Gouvernance

The climate in Cayenne is classified as a tropical monsoon climate.

Jardinbotanique
Jardinbotanique

This means the weather is very warm and wet. The city is strongly influenced by the Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ. This atmospheric system affects the weather more than the trade winds do. Cayenne has a very long wet season. The dry season is very short, lasting only from August to October. Even during these dry months, some precipitation occurs. On average, the city receives about 2,800 mm of rain each year. Temperatures remain nearly identical throughout the entire year.

Cayenne has a long and complex history of changing hands. Spanish explorers first visited the area but found it too hot for settlement. The French founded the first settlement in 1604. However, the Portuguese destroyed it to enforce the Treaty of Tordesillas.

Flag of the Dutch West India Company
Flag of the Dutch West India Company

French colonists returned in 1643 to found Cayenne. They were later forced to leave due to attacks by the local Indigenous Amerindian population. Between 1664 and the following decade, the colony changed hands between the French, Dutch, and English. The city was later captured by an Anglo-Portuguese force in 1809. It was administered from Brazil until 1817. From 1854 to 1938, Cayenne served as a French penal colony.

The city is managed through several administrative layers. Cayenne is a commune of the French Republic. It is led by a mayor and a municipal council. The current mayor is Sandra Trochimara, who took office in October 2020. Because the commune is small, an intercommunal authority exists. This group is called the communauté d'agglomération du Centre Littoral. It includes Cayenne and five suburban communes. The president of this authority is Serge Smock. This organization manages essential services like water supply, sewage treatment, and public transport.

Cantons de Cayenne
Cantons de Cayenne

The population of Cayenne has grown significantly over time. This growth comes from high birth rates and high levels of immigration. In the 2023 census, the metropolitan area had 153,884 inhabitants. Of these, 62,675 people lived in the city proper. The population is very diverse. According to the 2012 census, 26.7% of residents were born in other foreign countries. Many immigrants come from Haiti, Brazil, Suriname, and Guyana.

Trompeoeilcayenne
Trompeoeilcayenne

This migration creates a rich, multicultural environment in the city.

Cayenne is an important economic center and seaport. The major port is located at Dégrad des Cannes. It sits on the estuary of the Mahury River. The city exports goods like timber, rosewood essence, rum, and gold. In the mid-1960s, the economy included sugarcane and pineapple. A pineapple cannery and a shrimp-processing plant were also established. For travel, the Félix Eboué International Airport is the only international airport serving the area.

P1011741
P1011741

Many historic landmarks define the character of the city. The Saint-Sauveur Cathedral is a major site. Construction began in 1825 and the church was inaugurated in 1861.

Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur de Cayenne en Guyanne (2006)
Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur de Cayenne en Guyanne (2006)

The Botanical Garden covers three hectares in the city center. It was once known as the King's Garden under Louis XVI.

Jardinbotanique
Jardinbotanique

Visitors can also see the remains of Fort Cépérou on Mount Cépérou.

Cayenne Fort Cépérou 2013
Cayenne Fort Cépérou 2013

The Place des Palmistes is another lively spot. It was once called Place de la Savane. Today, it is a place where residents meet to eat local street food.

Cayenne Place des palmistes
Cayenne Place des palmistes

Cultural life in Cayenne is vibrant and diverse. The Carnival of Cayenne is one of the most major events.

Carnavalcayenne1
Carnavalcayenne1

The city also features historic Creole houses in the center. One example is the Maison Thémire.

Maison Thémire
Maison Thémire

Local markets are also central to daily life. The Cayenne market and the Place du Coq are adjoining buildings near the old port.

Marchecayenne
Marchecayenne

These spaces reflect the many different influences that have shaped the city over centuries.

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🖼️ Images & Media (19)
File:Flag of the Dutch West India Company.svg
Flag of the Dutch West India Company.svg
File:Rue piétonne.jpg
Rue piétonne.jpg
File:Cantons de Cayenne.png
Cantons de Cayenne.png
File:MairiedeCayenne.JPG
MairiedeCayenne.JPG
File:P1011741.JPG
P1011741.JPG
File:Trompeoeilcayenne.JPG
Trompeoeilcayenne.JPG
File:P1010303 Saint-Sauveur Cayenne.jpg
P1010303 Saint-Sauveur Cayenne.jpg
File:Maison Thémire.jpg
Maison Thémire.jpg
File:Cayenne Place des palmistes.jpg
Cayenne Place des palmistes.jpg
File:Jardinbotanique.JPG
Jardinbotanique.JPG
File:Marchecayenne.JPG
Marchecayenne.JPG
File:Placeducoq.JPG
Placeducoq.JPG

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