Deshaies, and its littoral zone of the Large Cape, preserve the vestiges of the primitive vegetation of Guadeloupe at the time of Christopher Columbus's arrival on November 4, 1493.

The deepest bay of all the Caribbean coast and best naturally protected, it was used as shelter to the adventurers of pirates and other corsairs, and there is said to be treasure on the island.

The geographical configuration makes traveling to the district difficult, so inhabitants formed their own community, including their own militia.

Between the time slavery was abolished and the Second World War, lack of education remained the principal obstacle to the development of this community.

There has been a road connecting the chief towns of the leeward shore since 1922, but it ended in Pointe Noire, the commune bordering Deshaies.

Deshaies is located on the leeward northwest coast of Basse-Terre Island and is secluded in a bay, where two headlands stick out.

[5] Public primary schools include:[6] Public junior high schools include:[7] Deshaies was the first village of Club Med intended for exclusively American customers (currently the Langley Resort Hotel Fort Royal Guadeloupe).

The late French comedian Coluche's house, which dominated bay of Deshaies, has been transformed into botanical park.

The music video for "Parti pour zouker" by the French artist Lorie was shot on a beach of Deshaies.

Deshaies has become well known because, as the fictional town of Honoré, it is the setting of the British-French crime comedy-drama television series Death in Paradise.