Baillif
Encyclopedia
Baillif is a commune
of Guadeloupe
, an overseas region and department of France
located in the Lesser Antilles
. Baillif is a suburb of Basse-Terre
, the prefecture and second largest urban area of Guadeloupe located on Basse-Terre Island
(the western-half of Guadeloupe).
The inhabitants are called Baillifiens.
The commune is named after an early inhabitant, Robert Baillif. Baillif traded in the area from 1650 to about 1700. Today, Baillif is often considered to be a suburb of the prefecture of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre
, and with its small regional airfield, it acts as a gateway to the islands in the south. Marie-Lucile Breslau was elected (maire) mayor of Baillif.
and it covers an area of 24.3 km² (9.4 sq mi). It faces the Caribbean Sea. The town is west of Basse-Terre's mountain range. The capital of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre
, is south of Baillif, and Vieux-Habitants, a village, is located north. La riviere de Père flows halfway between Baillif and Basse-Terre.
Trade wind
s, called alizés, blow from the northeast and often temper the climate.
Today, an industrial and commercial zone is under development, supplementing the Jarry zone.
At the entry to the market town, there is a 4 m tower as evidence of this historical past called the “Père Labat Tower”.
Further while going towards Vieux-Habitants, is the “engraved rocks” of Plessis.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, an overseas region and department of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
located in the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
. Baillif is a suburb of Basse-Terre
Basse-Terre
Basse-Terre is the prefecture of Guadeloupe, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles...
, the prefecture and second largest urban area of Guadeloupe located on Basse-Terre Island
Basse-Terre Island
Basse-Terre Island is the name of the western-half of Guadeloupe proper, in the Lesser Antilles. It is separated from the other half of Guadeloupe proper, Grande-Terre, by a narrow sea channel called the Rivière Salée ....
(the western-half of Guadeloupe).
The inhabitants are called Baillifiens.
History
In 1637, Governor De L’Olive conceded a parcel of land to the Dominican monks, from the Fathers’ river to that of Baillif, and today these mark out the boundary of the town. Under the leadership of Father Labat, several fortresses were built in Baillif to protect the region from English invasion. The Dominicans came to preach the good news of Jesus.The commune is named after an early inhabitant, Robert Baillif. Baillif traded in the area from 1650 to about 1700. Today, Baillif is often considered to be a suburb of the prefecture of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre
Basse-Terre
Basse-Terre is the prefecture of Guadeloupe, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles...
, and with its small regional airfield, it acts as a gateway to the islands in the south. Marie-Lucile Breslau was elected (maire) mayor of Baillif.
Geography
Baillif is situated on the south-west coast of Basse-Terre IslandBasse-Terre Island
Basse-Terre Island is the name of the western-half of Guadeloupe proper, in the Lesser Antilles. It is separated from the other half of Guadeloupe proper, Grande-Terre, by a narrow sea channel called the Rivière Salée ....
and it covers an area of 24.3 km² (9.4 sq mi). It faces the Caribbean Sea. The town is west of Basse-Terre's mountain range. The capital of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre
Basse-Terre
Basse-Terre is the prefecture of Guadeloupe, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles...
, is south of Baillif, and Vieux-Habitants, a village, is located north. La riviere de Père flows halfway between Baillif and Basse-Terre.
Climate
Like any other Eastern Caribbean settlement, Baillif experiences quite evenly spread rainfall during the year, with a wetter season between July and November which coincides with hurricane season. Guadeloupe has been struck by many hurricanes which have caused devastation. The town receives below 1500 mm of rainfall. Tropical heat is the norm, bringing constant highs of around 32 °C (89 °F) that drop to 20 °C (68 °F) at night.Trade wind
Trade wind
The trade winds are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics, within the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, in the lower section of the troposphere near the Earth's equator...
s, called alizés, blow from the northeast and often temper the climate.
Economy
Baillif has mainly an agricultural sector a. Mixed crops such as bananas, cocoa and coffee are grown. They are shipped to the port or the airport to be transported. Baillif has an airport, Baillif Airport & the runway is 2034 ft (620 m) and the International Civil Aviation Organization airport code is TFFB & the International Air Transport Association airport code is BBR.Today, an industrial and commercial zone is under development, supplementing the Jarry zone.
Sights
With its small regional airfield, it acts as a gateway to the islands in the south.At the entry to the market town, there is a 4 m tower as evidence of this historical past called the “Père Labat Tower”.
Further while going towards Vieux-Habitants, is the “engraved rocks” of Plessis.
Also to see
La Parc national de la Guadeloupe is a magnificent tropical forest of almost 66 square miles (170 km²), which has been a designated National Park since 1989. It has lots of well marked hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty. Its lush vegetation (over 3000 species of trees) provides shelter for an exotic wildlife, free from poisonous animals. With its waterfalls, cascades, basins, parks and different plantations…it reveals all its natural charm! It is located in the mountain range from Belle Hotesse to La Soufriere.Personalities
- Joseph de Bologne de Saint-George, (1745–1799), a famous musician & a French fencer.
- Gratien CandaceGratien CandaceGratien Candace was a politician from Guadeloupe who served in the French National Assembly from 1912-1942 and served as vice president of the French National Assembly from 1938-1940 .- references :*...
, (1873–1953), French politician