Fort-de-France — The Abolitionist's Secret Archive
Decipher Victor Schœlcher's hidden manifesto for freedom scattered across Fort-de-France's monuments. Uncover the coded message that sparked a revolution against slavery.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
Victor Schœlcher, the French abolitionist whose name now graces Martinique's most iconic library, left behind more than books—he left a cipher
Fort-de-France — The Abolitionist's Secret Archive
You are an archival investigator, working under the guise of Victor Schoelcher in Fort-de-France, 1893.
Your mission is to uncover a secret archive hidden within
Immerse yourself in the vibrant streets of Fort-de-France, where the echoes of the 1848 abolition of slavery decree still resonate in every stone.
« France, by abolishing slavery, gave humanity a great lesson in justice and freedom. »— Victor Schoelcher, History of the French Colonies, 1846
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins in front of the Schoelcher Library, a Historical Monument classified in 1991. Designed by Henri-Louis Lusseau for the 1889 Universal Exhibition in Paris, then rebuilt in Fort-de-France, its Neo-Byzantine style and 12-meter dome house stained glass windows by Louis-Victor Gesta depicting abolitionist scenes. It was here, in 1893, that Victor Schoelcher, the main architect of the April 27, 1848 decree abolishing slavery, is said to have consulted crucial documents. Your first puzzle invites you to decipher a message hidden in these ornaments, connecting Paris to Martinique through history.
You then cross the Place de la Savane, laid out in 1658 as a parade ground. This 1.6-hectare space was a site for abolitionist gatherings in the 19th century, not far from the port where the first slaves arrived in 1635. The decapitated statue of Joséphine de Beauharnais, erected in 1896 and vandalized in 1991, testifies to her role in the reestablishment of slavery in 1802. In 2020, the square was renamed Place de la Savane aux Abolitionnistes, a municipal decision reaffirming the legacy of Cyrille Bissette, a Martinican anti-slavery activist whose ideas marked this place.
Your journey takes you to the Fort-de-France City Hall, built between 1893 and 1907 by Alfred Dumain, a 4,500 m² building listed as a Historic Monument in 2003. This building was the site of Victor Schoelcher's speeches during his visits to Martinique after 1848. Its 30-meter-high clock tower overlooks the Place de la Savane. The investigation leads you to search for clues in the municipal archives, where period registers could reveal information about the implementation of the abolition decree and the challenges faced by the freedmen.
Further on, the Saint-Louis Cathedral of Fort-de-France, built between 1878 and 1895 by Arnold Brun, replaced the old church destroyed in 1851. Classified as a Historic Monument in 2016 and a minor basilica since 2021, it features a 60 m long nave. Its stained-glass windows, installed in 1930, commemorate the abolition of 1848. Here you will decipher hidden symbols that evoke the struggle for freedom and the resilience of the Martinican people, an essential Martinique abolitionist site for understanding French world heritage.
Your final stop leads you to the Fort-de-France Waterfront, developed since 1635 as a quay for the arrival of slave ships. This emblematic location, 1.5 km long along the Bay of Fort-de-France, is a commemoration point for the 1848 events, with a stele inaugurated in 2008. Here you will find the last fragment of the secret archive, which reveals the names of those who fought for freedom. Looking at Fort Saint-Louis (classified MH in 1993) in the distance, you conclude your Martinique thematic circuit, having uncovered an essential part of the history of Fort-de-France, an interactive visit that will remain etched in your memory.
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Abolition Decree
Trace the history of the founding text of freedom.
Eclectic Architecture
Decode the hidden messages in the city's stones.
Struggle for Equality
Follow in the footsteps of emblematic figures of emancipation.
The past whispers, freedom resonates.
Uncover the hidden symbols of emancipation.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need an app or a paper guide?
Neither. Everything plays in your browser (Safari, Chrome) after you tap your activation link. No PDF to print, no download. The trail lives in your phone, that's it.
Q02How many stops are in Fort-de-France — The Abolitionist's Secret Archive?
Eight stops total. At each stop you find a camera clue, solve the puzzle, collect a fragment of the final code. With all eight, you've got the answer.
Q03Can we play Fort-de-France — The Abolitionist's Secret Archive as a couple?
Great two-person format. Narration is dramatic without overdoing it, puzzles are designed to spark conversation. Ideal for new relationships or anniversaries — you discover the city and coordinate on puzzles simultaneously.
Q04What if we get stuck on a puzzle?
Three hint levels per puzzle, with a small increasing time penalty. If truly stuck after level 3, you can skip the step (45-min penalty). The point: nobody stays blocked and goes home frustrated.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play l heritage de schoelcher? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Immerse yourself in the vibrant streets of Fort-de-France, where the echoes of the 1848 abolition of slavery decree still resonate in every stone.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in France
View France→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
Explore other cities in France
Saint-Pierre
The Pompeii of the Caribbean, risen from its ashes
Basse-Terre
At the volcano's foot, between colonial history and tropical forest.
Concarneau
Fortified Ville Close and fishing port
Biarritz
Imperial resort and the Virgin's Rock
Bayonne
Gothic cathedral and Basque chocolate
Nantes
Castle of the Dukes of Brittany and Jules Verne