D'où vient le nom de la Place du Coq ?

Du monument aux morts inauguré en 1920, surmonté d'un coq gaulois en bronze, symbole de la République française.

Quel lien la place a-t-elle avec la traite négrière ?

C'est sur cette place, alors place du Port, que les navires négriers débarquaient les captifs africains mis en vente. Le Cercle des Esclaves, de Guy Benth, y rappelle cette histoire.

Depuis quand la place existe-t-elle ?

Elle apparaît sur les plans officiels de Cayenne dès 1703, et devient la place du Marché en 1842.

Où se trouve la Place du Coq ?

Sur la place du Marché, directement en face du marché de Cayenne, dans le centre-ville historique.

Culture & patrimoine★ Free accessCayenne

La Place du Coq de Cayenne : Lieu de mémoire

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Overview

The Place du Coq is a public square located in the historic heart of downtown Cayenne, French Guiana. Its name comes from a war memorial topped with a Gallic rooster, the symbol of the French Republic. Today the square presents itself as an open space around the monument, flanked by administrative buildings and a few shops. The urban layout is simple, prioritizing the open space needed for ceremonies. The square sits directly opposite the Cayenne market, on the market square itself.

Why Visit

The Place du Coq serves primarily as a venue for official commemorative ceremonies: Armistice Day on November 11th, Victory in Europe Day on May 8th, and other patriotic events. Outside of these official occasions, the square remains a transit point in downtown Cayenne, just steps away from the central market.

History

The square's origins date back to the early 18th century: it appears for the first time on official maps of Cayenne in 1703, attesting to its importance in the colonial urban layout. It is also here, on the former Place du Port, that slave ships unloaded the African captives who were put up for sale. The year 1842 marked a turning point: it became the Place du Marché, hosting a covered market and a public garden. In 1907, under the municipality of Eugène Gobert, the town council decided to remove the public garden and build the covered market still standing today. In 1920, the square took its current form with the inauguration of the war memorial on the site of the former market. This monument, erected in tribute to the Guianese soldiers who fell during the First World War, is crowned by a bronze Gallic rooster that would give the square its enduring name. Nearby, the Cercle des Esclaves by Guianese artist Guy Benth unfolds a spiral evoking life, time, resistance, marronage and resilience.

Getting There

The Place du Coq is located on the Place du Marché, directly opposite the Cayenne market, in the historic city center.

Getting there

Location

Cayenne · Guyane

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Frequently asked questions

Where does the name Place du Coq come from?+

From the war memorial unveiled in 1920, topped with a bronze Gallic rooster, symbol of the French Republic.

What is the square's connection with the slave trade?+

It was on this square, then the Place du Port, that slave ships unloaded the African captives who were put up for sale. The Cercle des Esclaves by Guy Benth recalls that history.

How long has the square existed?+

It appears on official maps of Cayenne as early as 1703, and became the Place du Marché in 1842.

Where is the Place du Coq located?+

On the Place du Marché, directly opposite the Cayenne market, in the historic city centre.