Les Abymes (French pronunciation:[lɛz‿a.bim]) is the most populous commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located on the west side of the island of Grande-Terre, and is part of the largest metropolitan area of Guadeloupe, which also covers Pointe-à-Pitre.[2]
Commune in Guadeloupe, France
Commune in Guadeloupe, France
Les Abymes
Commune
The Main Square in Les Abymes
Location of the commune (in red) within Guadeloupe
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1km2 (0.386sqmi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Abymiens or Abymiennes.[3]
Geography
Les Abymes is located some 3km north-east of Pointe-à-Pitre, 7km east of Baie-Mahault, and 10km south-west of Morne-à-l'Eau. Access to the commune is by Route nationale N1 from Baie-Mahault in the west which passes along the southern border of the commune and continues south as the N4. The N5 branches off the N1 and goes north-east through the centre of the commune and continues north-east to Morne-a-L'eau. The N11 branches off the N5 on the south-east of the town and continues north-west then west rejoining the N1. The D106 road also goes north from the commune to Vieux Bourg. The Route du Palais Royal passes north-east through the commune to join the N5. The Route de Chazeau branches from the Route du Palais Royal and goes north-east to Doubs.[4]
Les Abymes has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am). The average annual temperature in Les Abymes is 26.7°C (80.1°F). The average annual rainfall is 1,557.8mm (61.33in) with October as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.1°C (82.6°F), and lowest in February, at around 25.0°C (77.0°F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Les Abymes was 34.2°C (93.6°F) on 21 July 2001 and 10 August 1995; the coldest temperature ever recorded was 13.0°C (55.4°F) on 4 February 1958.
Climate data for Les Abymes (Le Raizet Airport, altitude 11m, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
The islands have been occupied since pre-Columbian times. Some remains have been found in the Dothémare area but the most remarkable were those found in Belle Plaine where surveys conducted by the Direction régionale des affaires culturelles (DRAC) in 2006 revealed the existence of a sizeable town dated from 1000 and 1200 AD (Troumassoid culture).
The first village, located a few kilometres from the current urban centre, was founded in 1691. It consisted of a few houses and experienced some development through the cultivation of sugar cane, cocoa, and coffee. A Parish Church was built in Les Abymes in 1726.
Administration
Les Abymes belongs to the community of communes called Cap Excellence which brings it together with Pointe-à-Pitre and Baie-Mahault. The commune is divided into three cantons:
Most of the economic activity of Les Abymes is related to the presence of the Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (formerly Aéroport du Raizet). The airline Air Caraïbes has its headquarters in Les Abymes.[9]
Although not a resort, Les Abymes is the second most important economic centre of Guadeloupe after the industrial zone of Jarry. The Milénis shopping centre is located in the commune. The "Family Plaza Complex" including a multiplex cinema, a shopping mall, and a leisure centre is due to open in 2015.[10]
Facilities
Education
There are several educational institutions in the commune:
Lycée La Persévérance - private school for general and technological education
Lycée Professionnel esthétique/coiffure
The Apprentice Training School for the Chamber of Crafts of Guadeloupe.[citation needed]
Former schools??
Lycée Général Providence - General sixth-form/high school and technological high school[citation needed]
The commune also hosts the headquarters of the Rector of the Académie de la Guadeloupe[fr] ("Academy of Guadeloupe"). A new building is under construction in the Dothémare-Providence ZAC scheduled for completion in the first quarter 2015.[14]
Health
The University Hospital (CHU) of Pointe-à-Pitre / Les Abymes was the largest on the island in 2013 bringing together some 40 hospital services covering all medical fields with a total capacity of 862 beds with 319 doctors, 120 interns, and 3,000 hospital workers.[15] The hospital is to be rebuilt at Perrin (commencing 2016 for delivery in 2019).
The Polyclinic of Guadeloupe is located at Morne Jolivière and is a private care centre with a total capacity of 110 beds including 20 beds for maternity.[16]
Culture
The Sonis Cultural Centre
The Renée Élie Hall at Chazeau
The Joseph Théodore Faustin Hall
A Multiplex Cinema at the "Family Plaza Complex" (under construction, expected completion June 2015)
The Félix-Proto Community Centre (under construction, expected completion end of 2015)
Culture and heritage
La Mulâtresse Solitude, in Les Abymes.
Civil heritage
The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
A Memorial from 1889 for the centenary of the French Revolution
The Abymes, Land of convergence Monument at the entry to the town showing the location of different communities on the island.
La Mulâtresse Solitude (1772–1802), a statue erected in 1999 in the Baimbridge district in memory of resistance against slavery, by the sculptor Jacky Poulier.
A Statue of Nelson Mandela erected in 2014 at the Petit-Pérou roundabout in memory of the President of South Africa, by the sculptor Jean Moisa[25]
Religious heritage
The Church of the Immaculate Conception
The commune has two religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
The Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception (1930)[26]
The Centre of Sports Resources, expertise, and performance (CREPS) of Antilles Guyana is located in the commune, on an area of 9 hectares on the site of the old Darboussier stadium.
Sports Clubs
Jeunesse Sportive Abymienne, football and Handball
Le Siroco, football
Jeunesse Evolution, football
La Juventa, football
la MJC Abymes, football, Basketball
JCA (Jeunesse Cycliste des Abymes), cycling
CSCA (Convergence Sportive Cycliste des Abymes), cycling
VO2C (Vélo d'Or du Centre de la Caraïbe), cycling
AS Police, cycling
BRUC (Boisripeaux Rugby Club), rugby
Notable people linked to the commune
Admiral T (born 1981), reggae-dancehall créole artiste
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