Noumea

New Caledonia

Nouméa is the capital of New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific, on the southwest coast of the main island. The Paris of the Pacific, it blends French sophistication with Kanak culture. Attractions include the Tjibaou Cultural Centre — Renzo Piano's tribute to Kanak heritage — the beaches of Anse Vata and Baie des Citrons, the aquarium's nautilus and corals, the lagoon — the world's largest — and the city's French-Melanesian fusion of cultures.