Things to see and do Low-Point

The former habitation Gradis, future cultural center of the Great North, theater of union struggles, is an unavoidable place of memory. This former 18^th century sugar house is now managed by the Collectivité de la Martinique which is reviving this important place of heritage. The famous Gradis Bridge, which connects this domain to the Eyma house, used to allow the transportation of sugar cane with one of the first steam locomotives.

Dating back to the second half of the ^17th century, Habitation Basse-Pointe was originally owned by Claude Poquet, a historical figure who wore many political hats. At the end of the ^18th century, the Habitation became the property of Denis Pécoul, deputy public prosecutor, and it was Jean-François Pécoul who gave it its definitive name in 1777. Towards the middle of the following century, Auguste Pécoul diversified cultivation, producing tobacco, coffee and silk in addition to sugarcane. Today, only bananas are grown. The property's layout is organized in such a way that the living space for the workers in huts unfolds around the main house, which is the heart of the estate, overlooking the coconut tree avenue. Listed as a historic monument in 1981, the main house is relatively well preserved. Rectangular in plan with no gallery, it is topped by a wasp-waisted second floor with a smaller perimeter. A sign of refinement on the part of the builders: the ashlar for the buildings was imported from Europe. The ruins of the factory chimney bear witness to the cane industry of yesteryear, while two Hindu temples bear witness to the survival of the ancient Tamils who arrived here in 1853 to make up for the shortage of manpower following the abolition of slavery in 1848. The dwelling was added to the heritage of the famous Habitation Clément (Le François) and Habitation Sucrerie in 2002. It is now managed by the Fondation Clément, which opens it to the lucky public during Heritage Days in September.

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.

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.

From 1848 until 1885, Basse-Pointe welcomed tens of thousands of Tamil workers from Pondicherry in India. These “coolies”, as they are called here, kept their traditions and built temples, including two particularly important ones in Basse-Pointe. The first is located after the Pocquet River, facing the pond; the second is near the Gradis Habitation. They can be visited on Sundays and during the “Bon dit coolie” ceremony.