National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers

Inscribed in 1982 on the World Heritage List under criteria (iv) and (vi), the site was subject to a restoration and improvement programme from 1979 to 1990 under UNESCO's and UNDP's technical and financial assistance.

A.   The National History Park very diversified combines imposing monuments, Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers, in a rural mountain environment. The National History Park was created to preserve this natural background from King Christopher's achievements. The intricacy of the problems, the concern about being in a position to conduct an efficient action and to prevent dispersion led to limiting the area to 25 sq. m. In 1978, at the request of the Haitian government, preparatory missions sent by UNESCO elaborated with the national authorities the restoration and implementation programme for these monuments and their environment. The Institut de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine national (ISPAN), established in 1979, was responsible for the protection policy of the national heritage and the study and execution of safeguarding projects, and the implementation of specific representative elements of the heritage. In 1979, ISPAN presented the ISPAN/UNDP/UNESCO project which comprises the conservation plan of the Citadel, of the site of Sans Souci, and of the fortified site of the Ramiers, and the development of monuments and sites for cultural purposes. The setting up of workshops for which a training programme was proposed fitted in with this project. Begun in 1979 the joint work ISPAN/UNDP/UNESCO officially ended on 21 July 1990. When the project started, archives and documents were almost non-existent so that it was necessary to conduct a careful interpretation of the buildings and pinpoint them in detail. Investigations enabled the delimiting of the different stages of construction, as well as of the techniques utilized. One of the objectives of any development programme or of any international campaign for the safeguarding of monuments and sites being the reinforcement of the national capacity to ensure the preservation and the improvement of its heritage, an intensive training programme was set up. Between 1980 and 1987, the most active period of restoration work, twenty-two technicians received a theoretical and practical training: architects, engineers, draughtsmen and heads of building sites.

In order to enlarge possibilities for technical assistance thanks to the project, an international campaign for the safeguarding of the Citadel, Sans Souci and les Ramiers was launched in 1980. An American committee, the United States Committee for Restoration of the Citadel (USCRC), responsible for the organization of the American campaign and the promotion of the project in the United States was created in December 1987. The purpose of this non-profit-making committee was to make known the project of preservation of the monuments and to collect the necessary funds to pursue the restoration work. The World Monuments Fund also supported actively the project by identifying new financing sources within private American foundations. Finally, as from 1981, other financial contributions were granted for selective operations under bilateral assistance, following the steps undertaken in Haiti with diplomatic representatives of Member States. Over the years, the project developed rapidly in a way that could not be predicted at its conception, partly due to the socioeconomic development of the area because of the creation of employment and the ever increasing interest of the national and international community for the project. Despite budgetary restrictions and changes which have taken place in the country since 1986 and which delayed the works, the project's objectives were achieved. The Haitian government contributed 2,373,273 dollars for the restoration of this complex, UNDP and UNESCO, 2,688,863 dollars.

B.  Analysis of the state of the Citadel quickly indicated the need to stop rainwater infiltration which threatened the structures, some of which were already seriously damaged by the 1842 earthquake. If the work carried out twice, in 1930/1933 and 1950/1955, saved the Citadel from ruin, twenty years later it was no less urgent to reconsider saving it from flooding. This has been the main objective of the project implemented after two years study. The work allowed the detection of the different phases as well as the building techniques used. Among the many solutions considered to save the Coidavid Battery from flooding, there was chosen the laying of a covering made of very long aluminium trays onto the framework reconstructing the original floor by using one joist out of two. The traces of the original state of the Royal Battery were sufficiently large to enable a historically exact reconstruction. This restoration work allows the protection of some 1,200 sq. m of buildings from flooding. As for the terraces, research was directed towards waterproofing. The techniques selected are based essentially on the imposition of a waterproof layer in the form of a concrete slope, covered with waterproof bituminous mortar; a thick paving ensures finish and protection.

C.  As is the case for the Citadel, all the buidings of Sans Souci are in rubble work. The Palace roof is covered with slates. This group of monuments was serviced by an outstanding hydraulic system; in 1979, reservoirs and piping were still buried underground. Torrential rain beating down on the unprotected masonry increased fissures and contributed to the collapse of walls and the detaching of the remaining plaster. The major objective was to clean up the site. Above all it was necessary to carry out soundings and excavations in order, on the one hand, to bring to light the original piping, and to better understand the constructions, on the other hand. The preservation method selected turned on strengthening and improving the remaining elements, every restoration, even partial, being excluded where original documents were lacking.

D.  In 1972 the fortified site of Ramiers was cleared of the luxuriant vegetation that covered it. The same materials as those of the other monuments are used. The redoubts are in a better state of conservation than the residential complex, but are not easily accessible since the drawbridges which gave access to it have disappeared. The preservation method selected was the strengthening of existing elements and the enhancement of the architectural monuments as a group.