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French heritage: iconic sites and food of Guadeloupe
This sheet presents cultural landmarks of French society. It looks in particular at Guadeloupe.
Key points of the sheet
- Fort Delgrès is a fortress in Basse-Terre, in Guadeloupe. It was built in the 17th century to protect the island from attacks.
- The fort is named after Louis Delgrès, an officer from Guadeloupe. He resisted the restoration of slavery. Today the fort is a symbol of the struggle for freedom.
- Chicken colombo is a typical dish of Guadeloupe. The chicken is marinated with a spice mix called "colombo", then simmered with vegetables.
- It is eaten with rice or plantain bananas at family meals and local festivals. This dish shows the richness of Creole gastronomy.
Words to know
- Fort Delgrès
- It is a fortress in Basse-Terre, built in the 17th century to protect the island from attacks.
- Louis Delgrès
- He was an officer from Guadeloupe who resisted the restoration of slavery.
- colombo (spice mix)
- It is the name of a spice mix used to marinate the chicken.
- Creole gastronomy (gastronomie créole)
- Chicken colombo embodies the richness of this gastronomy.
Test yourself: 3 questions
When was Fort Delgrès built?
In French, the language of the exam: Quand le Fort Delgrès a-t-il été construit ?
Fort Delgrès was built in the 17th century to protect the island from attacks.
What is chicken colombo eaten with?
In French, the language of the exam: Avec quoi mange-t-on le poulet colombo ?
Chicken colombo is eaten with rice or plantain bananas.
Who was Louis Delgrès?
In French, the language of the exam: Qui était Louis Delgrès ?
Louis Delgrès was an officer from Guadeloupe who resisted the restoration of slavery.
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- French heritage: landmark sites and food of La Réunion
- French heritage: landmark sites and food of Martinique
Source
Sheet “Patrimoine français : sites emblématiques et gastronomie de Guadeloupe” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.