CHAPPING HOUSE

Built at the end of the ^18th century opposite the port, the Maison Chapp is one of the oldest buildings in Basse-Terre. A great merchant, Charles Chapp, had it built to run his business. He could thus receive and store his merchandise, while living in it. The house has two ashlar facades, on Cour Nolivos and Rue du Docteur Cabre, one of which housed the stables and the other the warehouses. In addition to the ponds in the courtyard, the house also boasted a swimming pool, a rarity at the time. Charles Chapp also had a passion for painting. Paintings (family portraits, scenes from local life) were displayed on every floor. After the death of its owner, the house was passed on to his daughters, but eventually fell into neglect. Later, it became home to a bar (Cour Nolivos) and an ice-cream parlour (Rue du Docteur Cabre), at a time when refrigerators were still rare.

The Maison Chapp was listed as a historic monument in 1987. Renovation work (restoration, extension, seismic retrofitting) is currently underway on the interior, while work on the façade has been completed. Admire its elegance, with its finely wrought-iron balconies. The work undertaken by the Direction des Affaires Culturelles will give a new lease of life to the Chapp house, although at the time of writing it has not yet been determined how this will be achieved.