Iracoubo
French Guiana · 5 m
Description
Iracoubo is a small commune on the coast road between Sinnamary and Mana, and the reason to stop is its church. Father Raffray arrived in 1886 wanting the interior decorated and handed the job to Pierre Huguet, a convict from the camp next door who had been sentenced to twenty years for burglary and had never trained as a painter. Between 1892 and 1898 Huguet covered four hundred square metres of ceiling, nave and pillars in cherubs, garlands and false marble in a plain naive style. The church has been a listed monument since 1978.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: August – November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Painted interior of the Église Saint-Joseph
- Pierre Huguet, the convict who painted it
- Ceiling frescoes and false marble
- Wooden houses along the coast road
- Turtle beaches west towards Organabo (April - July)
- Savanna and marsh either side of the RN1
- Site of the penal camp beside the village
- Iracoubo river and its mouth
- Coast road on towards Mana
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- CAY