Cultural sightseeing in French Polynesia

French Polynesia is rich in historical sites. The most interesting of them are the temples, museums and archaeological sites. They can narrate the history of the islands from the pre-colonizing period to the recent past. The culture of the indigenous people, merging with the cultures of foreigners, eventually formed something distinctive. The different stages of this process were recorded with the help of historical monuments. Polynesians treasure their every history, even down to the smallest piece of the past. Magnificent buildings, ancient statues, piece of art and old documents remind the islanders about how their society was created.

In Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, there is an extraordinary Park called “The Square of the second of July”, which was formerly called the “Jacques Chirac Park”. This is not only a great place for walking among the greenery, offering a charming view of the harbor, but also a memorial to the victims of nuclear testing, expressing strong protest against the use of nuclear weapons. The name of the Park refers to the date of the first tests of nuclear weapons in the South Pacific. The commemorative inscription is dedicated to all the victims of nuclear testing in the world, and the totems in the center of the park reflect an unshakable thirst for life.

The tomb of Pomaré V, the last king of Tahiti, is in Papeete. Pomare V reigned for only three years, after which, in 1880, he relinquished the throne and completely transferred power to France. Even though this ivy-covered small coral structure in the form of a lighthouse which keeps a graceful Greek vase with the king’s remains does not provoke any dark thoughts about the transience of life, the king’s death story is rather sad: he died of alcoholism at the age of 51 years. An interesting fact is that the tomb was originally built for the mother of the king, but shortly before his death, he wished her ashes to be reburied, and he himself be buried in the tomb. There is a cemetery nearby, where the graves of four more persons of royal blood are located. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In Papeete is also where the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is situated. It is one of the oldest places of worship for Tahitian Catholics. The cathedral was opened in the year 1875. In the architecture of the building, two mutually complementary styles can be traced: colonial and local. The building cannot be called large, but it certainly attracts attention. The beautiful stained glass fits perfectly into the neat interior of the church. Located in Rikitee, the Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael, opened in 1848, is a neo-Gothic building with strict geometric shapes. The altar of the Cathedral is decorated with black pearls and mother-of-pearl.

Curious guests of French Polynesia should definitely visit the archaeological site “Yipona” in the Pomauu Valley in the Marquesas Islands. These 18 well-preserved statues of unknown functionality can be seen standing at the foot of the cliff. Five of these statues are striking in their size, with the largest of them standing at two and a half meters tall. The statues were made from a single piece of wood or stone. It is believed that religious rituals took place here, and during some of them even human sacrifices were made. “Kamuihei” on the island of Nuku Hiva is an ancient place surrounded by banyan trees, the oldest of which is more than five hundred years old. A pit in one of the trees was used for sacrifices. There are also other pits here, with their purpose still a subject of debate.

The Pearl Museum of Robert Van at Papeete fully justifies its name. Its creator is Robert Wang, the pearl magnate. The beautiful collection includes black pearls and is supplemented with information on its mining and history. A pearl jewelry shop is also located here. The museum of Tahiti and the Islands is located in Nyu’uroa. It is divided into several sections that enlighten visitors about ethnology, society, everyday life, nature, culture and religion of the inhabitants of the islands. Many exhibits such as maps, statues, tools and documents, immerse visitors into the complex but glorious history of the islanders.

The house-museum of the remarkable American writer, poet and screenwriter James Norman Hall in Tahiti, was opened in 2001 in his honor. Hall has written many books about the islands, including “The Bounty Riot”. The writer has lived in this house since the 20s of the last century, and his home has not been subject to reconstruction. The house has a huge library with thousands of books, personal belongings of the writer and his family, and a tea room. The museum will be interesting even to those who have never heard of James Hall. Connoisseurs of modern art should visit the museum-shop “Bora Art Upstairs” in Vaytap. This is a gallery that sells paintings, wood crafts and other objects of art created by locals. It is a great place to buy quality souvenirs that can either be hanged on the wall or put on the shelf.