Croix-des-Bouquets

Croix-des-Bouquets, or Kwadèboukè, is a market town on the Cul de Sac Plain, 12.9 kilometers (8 mi) east of Port-au-Prince. The town was originally founded on the coast in 1749, but it was moved to its current location further inland after the original town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1770. Croix-des-Bouquets is home to Haiti's largest livestock market.

In the 1950's Georges Liautaud started manufacturing metal crosses for the local cemetery. Later, an art collector convinced him to start making freestanding figures depicting Vodou spirits. Nowadays, Liautaud's apprentices are known as the 'Blacksmiths of Vodou'. They form an art colony with countless workshops that are well worth a visit.

The nearby village of Noailles is interesting for its tradition of iron-sculpturing. Not far northeast from Croix-des-Bouquets is large marshy lake of Trou Caïman, knowns as Eau Gallée to the locals. It is the best place in Haiti to see birds and it features a colony of greater flamingos, as well as several species of heron, rare ibises and ducks.

There are several hotels and restaurants in Croix-des-Bouquets, but most people prefer to stay in Port-au-Prince, 12 km to the west.

The Fugees singer Wyclef Jean was born in Croix-des-Bouquets.