PÉTION VILLE
Pétion-Ville is a commune in the suburbs of Port-au-Prince (Haiti).
Its 342,694 inhabitants are called Pétion-Villois and Pétion-villoises. Pétion-Ville can be considered a suburb, part of the greater-region of Port-au-Prince.
Pétion-ville sits on a hilly region named in the old days, » La coupe charbonnière » (Coal mining hill) as it supplied the entire city with most of the charcoal used as fuel.
Pétion-ville was also considered a prime holiday destination.
Pétion-ville was incorporated in 1831 by President Jean -Pierre Boyer. Since the mid 1950 it is a sought-after destination for Port-au-Prince residents seeking more temperate weather.
Alexandre Pétion built Fort Jacques and Fort Alexandre right at the end of the Independence wars. These fortresses are part of a network of twenty military buildings erected to protect the island from French forces and their incursions to reclaim Haiti.
L’Observatoire de Boutilliers
In Pétion-ville, this square was named in honor of President Jean-Pierre Boyer.
President Boyer inaugurated the city and named it Pétion-Ville to honour Alexandre Pétion, the first president of Haiti.
Three years after the 2010 earthquake, Pétion-ville underwent extensive renovations and was re-inaugurated in 2013. Place Boyer continues to delight the local residents.
Fort-Jacques & Alexandre
[The fortresses of Fort Jacques and Fort Alexandre are parts of the defense system devised by Emperor Jean- Jacques Dessalines to couter-attact should the French attempt to return Haiti to its prior colonial state.
General Alexandre Pétion supervised the construction of the fort.
The two forts are built on hilltops surrounding the town of Kenscoff, near Petionville .
Fort Alexandre pays tribute to Alexandre Pétion and Fort Jacques honours Jean- Jacques Dessalines.
Fort Jacques , complete with artillery and mortars was build in just one year.
Fort Alexander presents a bastion at each of its four corners.
In 1806, after the death of Jean- Jacques Dessalines Fort Alexander was decommissioned and became an abandoned post.
Fort Jacques offers impressive views of the entire bay of Port -au- Prince.
Place Boyer
Located in Laboule, a township in the outskirts of Pétion-Ville, l’Observatoire de Boutilliers is a promontory situated 900 meters above sea level.
The Ministry of Tourism completed restoration of the observatory in 2013 and the renovated structures offer its visitors unparalled, panoramic views of Port-au-Prince and its bay.
At the observatory visitors will find vieing devices or telescopes, a restaurant and a craft market showcasing various artists.