Bellevue La Montagne is the fourth communal section of Pétion-Ville. Situated on the Saddle Mountain Range, the section covers approximately 36 square kilometers and sits at a mean elevation of about 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) above sea level. Its elevated terrain offers panoramic views of the surrounding valleys, plains, and neighboring communities.
Mariaman
Neighboring sections[]
| Northwest 3e Etang Du Jonc |
5e B.Chardonnière |
Northeast 3e Petit-Bois, CDB |
|---|---|---|
| 4e B.La Montagne Pétion-Ville |
East 8e Belle-Fontaine, CDB | |
| Southwest 3e Sourçailles, KEN |
Southeast 6e Belle-Fontaine, CDB |
About[]
Bellevue la Montagne features steep slopes, scattered settlements, and small-scale agriculture, reflecting the rural highland lifestyle. Residences and farms are distributed along winding roads and mountain trails, with local gardens supporting subsistence farming and limited trade. The section borders Bellevue 2, and remains relatively insulated from urban sprawl, preserving much of its natural environment and traditional hillside practices.
Historically, Bellevue la Montagne was the third rural section of Pétion-Ville, with notable localities including Duval and Duplan, each hosting a rural school and, in the case of Duplan, a spring. The historic Fort Jacques and Fort Alexandre are located on the back of the mountain, opposite the Grand Fond mountain, linking the section to Haiti’s early defensive network.
Cultural landmarks include a chapel at Mariaman, devoted to the Virgin of Graces, celebrated annually on January 21. Although the site attracts pilgrims from across the nation, it remains unacknowledged by ecclesiastical authorities due to historical transgressions associated with the festival.
Bellevue la Montagne was originally the 3rd rural section of the town of Pétion-Ville, Port-au-Prince County, located on the Saddle Mountain Range. There is a rural school on the Duval habitation and another in Duplan, where there is a spring. Fort Jacques and Fort Alexandre are located in this rural section on the back of the mountain, opposite the mountain of Grand Fond.
Fort Repoussé[]
Fort Repoussé is a historic fortress located in the rural section of Bellevue-la-Montagne, in the Ouest Department of Haiti. Built in 1869 by General Vil Lubin as a defensive post against the Cacos insurgents of Pétion-Ville, the fort occupies a small hill overlooking the National Palace and the surrounding highlands, providing a strategic vantage point over the capital.
In 1889, General M. Monplaisir, then Minister of the Interior under 14President Légitime, employed Fort Repoussé skillfully in military operations against forces from the north, highlighting the fort’s continued strategic importance decades after its construction. Alongside Fort Jacques and Fort Alexandre, Fort Repoussé formed part of a network of highland fortifications designed to protect Pétion-Ville and its surroundings from insurgent and external threats.
Today, the fort remains a visible landmark from Pétion-Ville and the surrounding areas. Its elevated position and historical significance make it a symbol of Haiti’s post-independence military strategy and resilience in the face of internal conflict.
References[]
Hôpital Bellevue-La-Montagne - Wilkens Gilbert, Local guide [1]
National School De Mariaman - Marjorie Preval Desmangles [2]