Local history and culture Atlantic Coast

La Trinité has the particularity of possessing the vestiges of mills in the sugar houses, which were used to crush the cane and to extract the vésou necessary to the manufacture of rum. Powered by animals, water or wind, they coexisted until the 20^th century, even if, from the second half of the 19^th century, steam mills have gradually pushed back the windmills first, then the animal mills and finally the water mills. Unfortunately, most of them are only visible from the road because they are located on private property.

One of the island's oldest distilleries. JM agricultural rums are one of Martinique's great vintages. In addition to a visit to the distillery, a stroll through the rum garden is a must. The walk begins in the cane garden, where you can discover the 3 varieties of hybrid cane selected for their quality and resistance to mechanical cutting: straw cane, blue cane and red cane. The garden features the typical square layout that once prevailed on cane plantations. The walk takes you past rich vegetation, the result of exceptionally fertile soil and a cross-fertilization of species. In the rum garden, flowers, aromatic plants, shrubs, lianas and tall trees embody the delicious scents that develop during the metamorphosis of sugar cane and the aging of rums.

As you make your way along the trail, you'll be immersed in the typical scents of JM rums. Coffee, cocoa, guava, pineapple, breadfruit, lemon, citron...: the trail blends indigenous plants, present before the arrival of the first settlers, with domesticated plants, brought by Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and then Indians. The spice garden (basil, lemongrass, ginger, pepper, chili, Indian wood, cinnamon, vanilla...) rubs shoulders with ornamental plants (lilies, gardenia, jasmine, datura, ylang-ylang...). At the end of this enchanting stroll, drop by the boutique for a tasting of the divine nectars produced on site.

Raymond Rijo has imagined a Creole garden where market gardening, fruit growing, aromatic and medicinal plants coexist: cocoa, guava, banana, sugar cane, allspice, calabash… and especially cassava, the star product of the farm. The farmer offers themed educational workshops, to learn how to fight against predators, to make compost or bamboo chimes and of course to make the famous cassava-based pancakes. A high place of conservation of the traditional know-how of Martinique to discover.

The Habitation Chalvet contributed greatly to the economic development of Basse-Pointe. It was one of the largest sugar factories on the island. Now dedicated to the cultivation of bananas, sugarcane and pineapples, it is the only house open to the public. The new owners organize guided tours to discover the history of the house, the banana, and to discover some secrets of the local medicinal plants. You can learn a lot about the past of the house and the remains of the slavery era. Very interesting.

Le François is an important and lively town, more authentic than touristic. There is no beach here… but you can guess the coral reef on which the waves break in the distance. Go for a walk to the fish market, where fishermen come to sell their goods that they cut up on the table, under metal shelters. In the town center, besides the church in front of the town hall, notice the huts lined up on Perrinon street: they were built by the workers of the central factory of Emile Bougenot.

If you continue along the seafront road, you will arrive at the end of the cove at a small fishing port, one of the typical places of the city. One can read on a sign: “No throwing away old cars”! An adage that unfortunately is not listened to nor followed to the letter…

Then go and contemplate the banana plantations, at the exit of Le François, which constitute a typical natural scenery. We follow the direction of Le Vauclin (12 km), then we turn to take the D16 towards Bois-Soldat. From the road, the panorama on the islets on one side and the mountain on the other is incomparable.

Finally, go have a look at La Frégate, an old colonial house in the small village called Bonnaire. Continue your journey to the Cap Est Lagoon Resort: the complex has a beach accessible to all, with white sand, with clear waters, ideal for families. It is the only beach in Le François. To swim in the turquoise waters, you will have to reach the famous islets of Le François and Le Robert.

From Le Lorrain to Grande-Rivière, the sugarcane and banana fields give way to the tropical forest, a real wild jungle. This stretch of the D10 is familiarly called “Route des Habitations” in memory of the sumptuous plantations that once stood there. Today, some of them are still visible but remain private: you must book an appointment or ask for permission from the local tourist offices for the Habitation Beauséjour in Grand-Rivière, the Habitations Perpigna and Chénaux in Macouba, and the Habitations Leyritz and Pécoul in Basse-Pointe.