Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni

Saint- Laurent- du- Maroni is a town with 40 462 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the north- west of French Guiana, near the mouth of the Maroni on the border with Suriname.

Since 2007, twinned with Saint -Joseph in Martinique.

History

On the initiative of Napoleon III. Founded in 1858 as a penal colony for forced labor convicts were first deported during the French Revolution and again 1852-1945 to Saint -Laurent- du- Maroni.

The city is mainly known by the novel Papillon by Henri Charriere and their prison camp, which was used as a transit camp for the infamous prison on Devil's Island.

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Raoul Diagne (* 1910, † 2002), French football player and coach.
  • Léon Bertrand ( b. 1951 ), French politician (UMP ), Minister of Environment, Energy, Overseas (2002-2007)
Arrondissement Arrondissement of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni Cantons of France Postal codes in France Maroni (river) Saint-Joseph (Martinique) Papillon (book) Apatou Awala-Yalimapo Camopi Cayenne Grand-Santi Iracoubo Kourou Macouria Maripasoula Matoury Ouanary Papaïchton Remire-Montjoly Roura Sinnamary
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