Torbeck: Discover Caves and History

To the south, the Caribbean Sea forms the boundary of the municipality of Torbeck. The municipality is home to the Kounoubwa and Soulas caves, as well as the Citadelle des Platons; Saint Joseph Parish is located in the town of Torbeck. This brings together natural formations, religious history, and a historic fortification for your travel planning.

Caves in the Municipality of Torbeck

A 2020 access description reports that Kounoubwa is a cave explored with ropes. The cave begins with a 40-meter-deep shaft; a 45-meter-long rope is specified for descending to the bottom. These figures refer to different measurements: 40 meters is the shaft depth, while 45 meters is the specified rope length. At the lower level, small galleries and muddy narrow passages allow for extensive underground exploration.

The access description gives a route from Camp-Perrin via the South Ravine. It names Joel Constant as the landowner and cave guide who opens the access gate. Check whether access is possible before visiting.

Soulas Cave opens through an 18-meter-deep entrance shaft into several chambers containing numerous stalactite and stalagmite formations. One collapsed chamber is partly covered with guano; ficus roots extend to the bottom of the shaft. Two chambers contain very fragile calcite formations, which should be viewed from a distance.

The features provide a clear basis for comparison: Kounoubwa is characterized by its deep shaft and muddy narrow passages, while Soulas has several chambers and delicate calcite formations. Check access to Kounoubwa in advance; at Soulas, the recommendation is to view the calcite formations from a distance.

Saint Joseph in Torbeck

Saint Joseph Parish in Torbeck was founded in 1719. Its feast day is March 19. During the celebration on March 19, 2023, an artistic parade made its way through the streets of Torbeck; Rue Saint Joseph was the center of the festivities.

The dates have different roles: 1719 marks the founding, March 19 is the feast day, and 2023 is the year of the celebration with the parade. For the Citadelle, 1804 is both the year it was built and the year freedom was won.

Citadelle des Platons

On the heights of Platons, in front of Macaya, the Citadelle des Platons stands at an elevation of about 600 meters. From there, it overlooks the plain of Les Cayes and the plain of Les Orangers between Saint Louis and Cavaillon. It was built in 1804 by General Nicolas Geffrard, following the design of the fortification engineer Morancy. The Citadelle is a remnant of the fortifications built by Haitians in the early 19th century to safeguard the freedom won in 1804. Its approximate elevation and views over two plains add a sense of place to its history.

Discover more destinations: Cacor, Port-Salut, Les Cayes

Return to the broader travel overview: Département Sud.