Originally a fishing village on a swamp for which it was named, Marigot was made capital during the reign of King Louis XVI of France, who built Fort Louis on a hill near Marigot Bay. Today, that building is the most important in Marigot.
The town of Marigot owes its name to the many backwaters, or marigots, that used to be here. Thanks to strong growth driven by sugarcane production in the 18th century, Marigot became the capital of the French part of the island. In 1970, part of the lagoon was filled in and the village extended.
Marigot became the subprefecture town and home to all of the administrative offices (Community Hall, subprefecture offices, border police, customs, etc.) for the two northern islands, St. Martin and Saint Barthélemy. Marigot is made up of several neighborhoods: Agrément, Hameau Du Pont, Galisbay, Concordia, Sandy Ground, Saint James, and Bellevue. Marigot has a population of 10,000 and is a worthy representative of France in the tropics. A stroll through the town reveals some beautiful colonial houses. Rue de la République is a perfect example.
Marigot is typical of Caribbean towns, with gingerbread houses and sidewalk bistros. Market days are every Wednesday and Saturday morning.
The crew of the 1997 motion picture Speed 2 shot the final scene in Marigot where the Seabourn Legend (ship) hits the island.
The coordinates are from Place du Marché.
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