Many of Jacmel's buildings were constructed in the late 1800s when the town was a busy trading port. The merchants who built them brought iron balcony decorations from France and New Orleans. Today, the ironwork is so famous that people travel just to photograph the balconies, which are covered in flowers, vines, and geometric shapes.
Jacmel has always been a home for artists. Painters, sculptors, mask-makers, and craftspeople have workshops all through the town. The streets near the old market are lined with galleries selling Haitian art - bright, bold paintings full of colour and life, papier-mâché masks, and hand-painted metal sculptures.
The town is particularly famous for its papier-mâché tradition. Craftspeople in Jacmel have been making papier-mâché figures, masks, and decorations for generations. The skills pass from parent to child, and each maker develops their own style. During Carnaval, the giant papier-mâché masks created in Jacmel are some of the most spectacular in the whole Caribbean.
Walking through Jacmel feels like turning through the pages of an art book. There are murals on walls, sculptures in courtyards, and musicians playing in cafes. Many Haitian artists say that Jacmel is where their love of colour and creativity first came alive.