Visiting Haiti’s Citadelle Laferrière: From sacred legacy, organization and rules to neglect as days gone by

Visiting Haiti’s Citadelle Laferrière: From sacred legacy, organization and rules to neglect as days gone by

PORT-AU-PRINCE — I was born in Cap-Haïtien. Growing up, visiting the Citadelle Laferrière was nothing like what we see today. Back then, it was not a casual outing. It was an experience — a demanding ascent, a moment of reverence, almost a rite of passage. Access was open to all — tourists, families, researchers — but it came with structure and expectations. Visitors paid an entrance fee that helped maintain the site.Certified guides explained t…