The Citadelle Laferrière is the largest fortress in the Caribbean, and is in close proximity to the Sans-Souci Palace, near Cap-Haïtien.

Built in 1804, following Haiti‘s independence from France, ex-slave and future President and later self-proclaimed King, Henri Christophe led the construction of the fortress on the northern side of the island to protect its inhabitants from an eventual return by the French Army.

The Citadel is hailed as a model of military architecture: built atop a mountain, at an altitude of 950 meters, each facet of the fortress serves a strategic purpose.

As it was never used for defensive purposes, the citadel remains largely intact with hundreds of cannons and thousands of cannonballs, and is a historical monument.

The Citadelle Laferrière and the Palace were designated as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 1982.

Milot, Haiti, January 2015 — Citadelle Laferrière, with its weapons and munitions, stands a dormant guard.

Text and images by Chanez Baali.