Le Lorrain

History of the Municipality of LE LORRAIN

Le Lorrain is the largest municipality in the northern Atlantic region of Martinique.

Formerly known as Grande-Anse, named after the river of the same name that runs through the municipality, Le Lorrain was first inhabited by the Arawaks and later by the Caribs.

Unfortunately, the Caribs were driven from their territory following their defeat by the colonists in 1658.

From then on, the municipality transformed into a large agricultural area where sugarcane and tobacco were cultivated.

At that time, its territory included what is now the Marigot municipality as well as Le Lorrain itself.

It wasn't until 1889 that the boundaries of the municipality were redefined, and it was given the name "Le Lorrain."

Furthermore, the population was predominantly composed of slaves brought from Africa.

Over time, the population gradually grew with the arrival of Indians after the abolition of slavery.

In fact, the freed slaves refused to continue working for their former oppressors.

As a result, a wave of Indian immigrants decided to come and settle in Martinique to work.

Gradually, the population mixed, and the former slaves ended up working for the "békés" (white landowners), although the atmosphere was tense.

The workers still faced a lot of mistreatment and received very little pay. These difficult conditions led to a strike that resulted in a social tragedy.

This historical event is precisely recounted by the famous singer Kolo Barst in his song "Févryé 74."

The strike lasted for more than a month and primarily affected the agricultural sector.

As the police were unable to control the situation peacefully, they decided, under the influence of the prefect, to use firearms against the protesters.

This confrontation resulted in 2 deaths and several injuries among the agricultural workers and one injury on the side of the law enforcement.

A few days later, the workers obtained a wage increase.

Since then, Le Lorrain remains a symbol of labor struggle in Martinique.

Did you know?

In the 1700s, the municipality of Le Lorrain already had nearly 17 sugar mills!

URBANISM

Le Lorrain is a municipality in northern Martinique. It is part of the "Cap Nord" urban community.

To access it, you can take National Road 1 from Marigot and Basse-Pointe, or Road 3 from Ajoupa-Bouillon.

Additionally, the municipality is intersected by Departmental Roads 12, 22, and 22b.

Finally, Line 22 of the public transportation network provides access to the area.

GEOGRAPHY of this Municipality in Northern Martinique

Le Lorrain has an area of 50.33 km², making it one of the largest municipalities on the island. However, it has a low population density with only 6,713 inhabitants.

This extensive municipality is located in the northern Atlantic region of the island, specifically in the Grand-Nord area.

To the northeast of it is Basse-Pointe, and just next to it in the northwest is Ajoupa-Bouillon.

To the east, it has a coastline, but it is not advisable for swimming as the sea is very rough there.

To the west, you'll find the municipality of Morne-Rouge.

Finally, to the south is the municipality of Marigot.

POLITICS

The city was long led by Mr. Michel Thalmensy (from 1975 to 2008).

In 2008, the left-wing mayor stepped down, and Justin Pamphile, also from the left-wing and a former councilor at both the regional and general levels, took his place.

Elected at the age of 39, and sensitive to the issues of young Lorrain residents, he has aimed to implement numerous initiatives to help them find their place in the municipality and revitalize it.

YOUTH

The hometown of the famous writer Raphaël Confiant welcomes its young population with its two primary schools, its nursery and elementary school, its middle school, and its high school, all named after a former great mayor of the city.

CULTURE

What to do in Le Lorrain, day and night?

Escape into Nature The town offers a few activities related to its history, which holds a significant place in Martinican society, and also allows you to enjoy nature:

• Swimming in the river
• Visiting the Vivé and Fond Brûlé plantations
• The cassava hut
• The dollhouse
• Visiting the Jouan mill

The History of Le Lorrain Through Stone

In terms of architecture, whether it's religious or cultural monuments, the history of Martinique has left us with traces of the past.

In the category of religious monuments, you can find in Le Lorrain:

• The Church of Saint-Hyacinthe

Traces of Amerindian heritage in Martinique have been discovered on the Vivé plantation.

Designation as "Historical Monument" or "20th Century Heritage"

Many buildings, including those mentioned above, are protected by designations such as "Historical Monument" or "20th Century Heritage."

Among these distinctions, there is, among others:

• The Church of Saint-Hyacinth

IN SUMMARY Le Lorrain is primarily an agricultural municipality.

While it offers few activities, it nevertheless has the potential to turn towards ecotourism to showcase its wealth.

Gradually revitalizing itself, it will surely become an essential municipality in the years to come.