Fort St. Louis ligger i västkusten Marigot, den största bosättningen i den franska delen av ön.
Fort St. Louis is just north of Simpson Bay Lagoon along the west coast of Saint Martin, overlooking Marigot, the largest settlement on the French side of the island. Expect about a 20-minute drive from Philipsburg. At the underground parking lot, take the steps up to the fort.
Fort St. Louis is an open-air attraction and welcomes visitors year-round. Visit Saint Martin / Sint Maarten in the spring or fall for deals on hotels and flights. Visit from February to June when humpback whales pass by the island on their way north, or during Carnival, which is a pre-Lenten festival on the French side and a post-Easter festival on the Dutch side.
Head to the peninsula on the western side of Great Bay to see the island’s other fort, as well as a smattering of colonial artifacts including cannons and a skeleton of a Spanish soldier. Built by the Dutch in 1631, Fort Amsterdam provided an important vantage point in the dispute over the island among the Dutch, French, and British. Peek along the coast where brown pelicans make their nests.
