Cap-Haïtien is near the historic Haitian town of Milot, which lies to the southwest along a gravel road. Milot was Haiti's first capital under the self-proclaimed King Henry Christophe, who ascended to power in 1807, three years after Haiti had gained independence from France. He renamed Cap‑Français as Cap‑Henri. Milot is the site of his Sans-Souci Palace, wrecked by the 1842 earthquake. The Citadelle Henry, a massive stone fortress bristling with cannons, atop a nearby mountain is away. On clear days, its silhouette is visible from Cap‑Haïtien.