Coordinates: 15°59′45″N 61°43′45″W / 15.9958°N 61.7292°W / 15.9958; -61.7292

Basse-Terre is the prefecture (Capital city) of Guadeloupe, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles. The city of Basse-Terre is located on Basse-Terre Island, the western-half of Guadeloupe.

Although it is the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre is only the second largest city in Guadeloupe behind Pointe-à-Pitre with its urban area, with 44,864 inhabitants in 1999 (12,400 of whom lived in the city of Basse-Terre proper).

See Basse-Terre Island for the origin of the name Basse-Terre.

The city was founded in 1643, in the mountainous section of Basse-Terre, one of the two islands which compose Guadeloupe. It was destroyed many times as a consequence of the Anglo-French wars. Today the town is quiet due to the eruption of La Grande Soufriere in 1976, with its French provincial atmosphere and colourful port life.

In town is the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, a 19th century building which has a notable grey stone highlighted by white statues; many other colonial buildings; La place du Champ d'Arbaud, the main square and Le Jardin Pichon, the park adjoining to the south & the Zoological and Botanical Park lies on a 1,500-foot (460 m) hilltop garden on the banks of La Rivière-aux-Herbes. This is a reserve of the plants and animals of Guadeloupe.