Museums and heritage in Suriname

Heritage and History

Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni preserves the somber legacy of the French penal system alongside elegant colonial-style architecture. This selection highlights the Camp de la Transportation, once the primary processing center for convicts, and surrounding administrative structures like the Sous-préfecture and Trésorerie. Built primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these brick and timber buildings, including the André-Bouron Hospital and St. Lawrence Church, reflect the town's history as a unique administrative center where prison operations and civic life were inextricably linked.

Heritage and History — Map

Ted Hill / CC-BY-SA-3.0

A

Prison of St-Laurent-du-Maroni

The prison of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni was the main penal colony in French Guiana for more than a century.

B

St. Lawrence Church, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni

The St. Lawrence Church is a religious building that serves as a parish church dependent on the Diocese of Cayenne which was created by pope…

C

Sous-préfecture

A listed historical monument serving as the local administrative headquarters, representing the town's role as the capital of the Maroni district.

D

Maison bleue

A protected historical monument showcasing the colonial-era architecture characteristic of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni's 19th-century urban development.

E

André-Bouron Hospital

André-Bouron Hospital was a hospital in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana.

F

Subdivision de l'équipement

A historical administrative building designated as a monument of French Guiana, formerly housing the region's public works departments.

G

Trésorerie

A listed historical monument that served as the town's treasury, part of the administrative complex built during the penal colony era.

H

Résidence du Sous-Préfet

The official residence of the sub-prefect, recognized as a historical monument for its late 19th-century colonial design and significance to local governance.

Other Lists

Suriname Essentials Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni Heritage Hidden Gems of Suriname Scenic Viewpoints & Nature Sacred Sites & Historic Places of Worship Nature Resorts & Jungle Lodges