Features

• Visit Labadie (also spelled Labadee). This is a lovely resort area located on the northern coast of Haiti. Very tourist-friendly, the resort welcomes thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. With bright blue skies, soft white sand and a jovial, bustling atmosphere, this is a must-see for any tourists. There is also a traditional Haitian flea market, several beaches, a zip line, water park and many places to engage in water sports.
  
  

History

• The Citadelle Laferriere is one of the most important historical landmarks in Haiti, having been named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1982. Often known simply as the Citadelle, it is a mountain fortress in Northern Haiti and is the biggest one in the entire Western Hemisphere. This enormous stone fortress was constructed by approximately 20,000 slave workers to keep Haiti safe from French incursions. With the imposing stone walls, cisterns and storehouses of the Citadelle, it is a highly impressive landmark to visit.
  
  

Benefits

• The Barbancourt Rum Distillery is another popular tourist destination in Haiti. Founded in 1862 by the Gardere family, this distillery makes rum from sugar cane juice pressed from local, hand-cut sugar cane. The sugar cane used for the Rhum Barbancourt is from the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac fields. There are guided tours of this distillery, and visitors can watch the rum-producing process up close.
  
  

Significance

• Another significant historical landmark is the Sans-Souci palace in Cap-Haitien, located not far from the aforementioned Citadelle. Sans-Souci was the royal residence of Henri Christophe (King Henri I). Building of the palace commenced in 1810, and the palace was finally completed in 1813. Also named a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1982, the palace was a beautiful and powerful sight until much of it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1842. It was never reconstructed.
  
  

Expert Insight

• The National Museum (Musee du Pantheon Nationale Haitien) in the Haitian capital city of Port-au-Prince has an impressive collection of Haitian relics and artifacts including historical documents and traditional costumes. Located on top of a hill, this museum (in the shape of a mansion) details Haiti's history from the era of the Taino and Arawak native tribes up to the 1940s. Check out many of the mesmerizing artifacts of the Haitian kings.