Fort-de-France — Josephine's Shadow Curse
Uncover the curse behind Empress Josephine's headless statue. Decipher hidden clues across La Savane to expose the dark conspiracy linking her shadowy legacy to Martinique's unrest.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the heart of La Savane, Fort-de-France, the beheaded statue of Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais stands as a silent witness to centuries of turmoil
Fort-de-France — Josephine's Shadow Curse
You are a Royal Archivist from the French Empire, dispatched to Fort-de-France in 1805, tasked with documenting Empress Joséphine's early life and legacy.
Delve into the shadow of Joséphine de Beauharnais, empress born in Martinique, and unravel the secrets of Fort-de-France.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins in the Place de la Savane, created in 1770 by Governor Jean-François Cazeau de Trémont as a military parade ground. This approximately 12-hectare expanse, lined with royal palms planted in the 19th century, was the heart of the city, formerly known as Place d'Armes. It was here that the statue of Joséphine de Beauharnais, a strong symbol of Martinique, was erected in 1857 before being destroyed by fire in 1991. As you explore this central location in Fort-de-France, you decipher the first messages that guide you toward the empress's legacy.
Continue your investigation towards the Schoelcher Library, a Neo-Byzantine building classified as a Historic Monument in 1992. Built in Paris in 1887 by Henri Lafaurie for the Universal Exhibition, it was moved and reconstructed in Fort-de-France in 1893. Victor Schoelcher, an abolitionist figure, donated it to house his anti-slavery collection, and it was inaugurated on February 12, 1893, by the Governor of Martinique. The mosaics and stained-glass windows of this architectural gem conceal crucial clues about the links between colonial history and Joséphine's destiny.
Rue Victor Hugo, the main commercial thoroughfare of the Martinique capital, then leads you toward the Saint-Louis Cathedral. Approximately 500 meters long, this street, once named Rue du Gouvernement, was renamed in the early 20th century in homage to the French writer (1802-1885). It is lined with late 19th-century colonial architecture, testifying to the urban evolution of Fort-de-France. Every facade, every corner of this bustling artery, holds fragments of the past that bring you closer to the truth about Joséphine's shadow.
Your journey takes you to the Saint-Louis Cathedral of Fort-de-France, the main church rebuilt between 1878 and 1895 after the previous one was destroyed by a hurricane in 1851. Dedicated to Saint Louis, patron saint of French colonial missions, it was classified as a Historic Monument in 2010. With its 70m long nave and 55-meter high bell tower, it dominates the urban landscape. The archives and religious symbols of this key edifice of Martinique's heritage offer you new perspectives on the empress's influence.
After passing the Departmental Museum of Archaeology and Prehistory of Martinique and Fort Saint-Louis, founded in 1639 by Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc and expanded in 1691 by François d'Alessandri, your quest concludes at the Grand Marché of Fort-de-France and on the Waterfront. The market, built in 1901 from cast iron and steel, has been a central hub for Creole products since 1902. The Waterfront, a promenade developed in the 2000s, offers a view of Mount Pelée, site of the 1902 eruption. These locations, though more contemporary, are the heirs of the first French colonial settlements as early as 1635, and allow you to connect Joséphine's history to modern-day Martinique, completing your reconstruction of her legacy in the Martinican capital.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
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
8 sites to explore by car within the day
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?
Imperial Destiny
Follow the trajectory of a Creole who became empress.
Creole Roots
Immerse yourself in the ambiance of 18th-century Martinique.
Contested Memory
Analyze the different facets of her controversial legacy.
Between myth and reality, who was she really?
Unravel the mystery of the Empress of the French.
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
Q01Concretely, how does it unfold outdoors?
You arrive in Fort-de-France, Martinique, open the link on your phone, the story starts. It's the modern outdoor escape game: audio narration, camera puzzles, final code unlocked as a team. No install. No need to book a time slot.
Q02What walking pace should we expect?
Easy stroll: between stops you walk 3 to 7 minutes. No tough climbs unless flagged on the product page. If you really want to push, you can jog between stops, but that's not the point.
Q03Does Fort-de-France — Josephine's Shadow Curse work for team-building?
Yes — it's actually one of our main use cases. Outdoor escape game format, teams of 4 to 6, live ranking possible between groups. For companies above 12 participants, contact us: we can issue linked codes.
Q04What happens if it rains in Fort-de-France, Martinique?
The game is playable in light rain — just keep your phone under a hood. For heavy thunderstorms, your code stays valid, you can postpone to another day at no cost.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Delve into the shadow of Joséphine de Beauharnais, empress born in Martinique, and unravel the secrets of Fort-de-France.
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
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