Saint-Pierre is a commune of France's Caribbean overseas department of Martinique, founded in 1635 by Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc. Before the total destruction of Saint-Pierre in 1902 by a volcanic eruption, it was the most important city of Martinique culturally and economically, being known as "the Paris of the Caribbean". It is also the cultural capital of Martinique. After the disaster the capital of Martinique became Fort-de-France, which grew in economic importance.