Citadelle Laferrière

We would have been perfectly content to never leave the hotel during the three day trip to Cap Haitian, but the main reason that I wanted to go there was to see the Citadelle Laferrière.  It is a mountain top fortress that is in a little town called Milot, about 17 miles away from Cap.  

It is five miles from the town of Milot up the mountain to the citadel.  Because we had a five year old with us, and because our main goal of the trip was rest and relaxation, instead of hiking, we decided to take the lazy man's way up the mountain....mules.

The view at the top was possibly one of the most impressive that I've ever seen.

The citadel was built by Henri Christolphe and about 20,000 workers after the slave revolt against the French.  It was built as protection in case the French decided to attack the newly independent country.  It took twenty years to build and was finished in 1820, however the French never attacked.  The walls are 130 feet high and the citadel is roughly 100,000 square feet.

There are still piles of cannon balls and cannons all throughout the citadel.  

I read that the Haitians placed over 300 cannons within the citadel.  On many of the cannons, you can still clearly see the crests of the 18th century monarchs. 

We spent a couple hours exploring all over the fortress.  It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen.  Part of that might be because unlike historical things/places in the states, we were free to explore almost the entire citadel as we pleased.

I am so thankful that I was able to see this incredible iconic Haitian structure.  I can now cross that off my bucket list!