Visit Fort Dauphin, Madagascar

Settled first by the Portuguese and later by the French, Fort Dauphin has an idyllic location on a peninsula jutting out into the Indian Ocean.

Fort Dauphin's French influence

Today the fort itself is a crumbling ruin, but the French presence is still strong and much of the town is owned by the de Heaulme family. A busy port (in spite of the shipwrecks rusting in Baie de Galions), Fort Dauphin is not particularly beautiful. The natural setting of the town is stunning however, with beaches on three sides and the dark slopes of Pic Louis looming above.

There are a few good hotels in Fort Dauphin and some excellent restaurants, particularly for lovers of seafood.