Capital of French Guiana

The capital of French Guiana is Cayenne.

Key Facts

• Location: On the Atlantic coast, at the mouth of the Cayenne River
• Population: ~65,000 (metro ~140,000)
• Founded: 1643 by French colonists
• Status: Prefecture (administrative capital) of the overseas department/region of French Guiana

Characteristics

• Colonial architecture: Place des Palmistes, Place de Grenoble, Hôtel de Ville
• Markets: Vibrant central market (iron structure, 19th century) selling Creole produce, spices, crafts
• Cultural mix: Creole, French, Brazilian, Surinamese, Haitian, Asian communities
• Carnival: Famous months-long celebration (January-March) with touloulou balls, parades, vidé street parties
• Gateway: Félix Éboué Airport (CAY) connects to Paris, Caribbean, Brazil

Strategic Importance

• Hosts the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) near Kourou (60 km west)—Europe's spaceport
• Administrative center for France's largest overseas department (83,534 km²)
• Only EU territory in South America

Cayenne embodies French Guiana's unique position: a European capital in the Amazon, where French law meets Creole culture at the edge of the rainforest.