Beautiful greetings from Rivière-Pilote!
Rivière-Pilote Today
Airlocal welcomes you to Rivière-Pilote, a commune rich in history, known for its beachfront and tourism, but also for its hilly and lush green landscapes in the hills.
Over the years, the municipality has carved out a prominent place in the Martinique landscape, a legacy that spans more than 400 years.
Together, let's explore what truly lies at the heart of this charming community.
History of the Municipality of Rivière-Pilote
A Free Town!
Lumina Sophie, Lubin, and Telgard are iconic names for the people of Martinique! But let's start at the beginning before we get to this chapter.
Rivière-Pilote was initially inhabited by the Caribs. It was their chief, Pilote, who gave the name to the municipality!
When the colonists arrived in 1635, Pilote sympathized with them, allowing them to occupy the south of the island while they took the north.
But in 1665, following the arrival of the Jesuits in the region, the Caribs were expelled from their own land!
The Jesuits built a church not far from the former Carib settlement, which would later become Sainte-Luce. The other part of the municipality would form that of Marin.
It was only in 1837 that the boundaries were redrawn, giving birth to the current municipality of Rivière-Pilote.
The town has always been known as a refuge for people refusing to submit to any external authority.
Many Nèg Mawon (Maroon) slaves fleeing their plantations would seek refuge here.
In 1870, 22 years after the end of slavery, a memorable conflict erupted in Rivière-Pilote between former slaves and white planters (békés). This event would affect the entire south.
It all started with an injustice:
Léopold Lubin, a former slave, was working along a road when two white planters on horseback, including Augier de Maintenon, called on him to move aside to let them pass.
Lubin, seeing plenty of space for the two men, refused to move further. Augier de Maintenon, dissatisfied, struck him in the face with a riding crop!
Lubin decided to file a complaint with the police, but justice was not served. Worse, his complaint was ignored!
Sometime later, Lubin decided to take justice into his own hands. He encountered his assailant one day and attacked him in return.
Injured, De Maintenon filed a complaint with the police. This time, Léopold Lubin was fined and sentenced to 5 years in prison for his actions.
The population was outraged and cried out against the injustice.
This time, it was one time too many!
A wave of anger swept through the people of the south of Martinique. On the night of September 22, they marched through every street of the municipality, rallying the neighboring towns to their cause as they burned down all the homes and plantations in their path!
They marched for several days until they reached Trinité, led in part by Lumina Sophie, who was 22 years old and pregnant. She gave birth to the first free baby since the end of slavery.
After more than 5 days of riots, 200 people were arrested and tried. Ten were sentenced to death, and 90 were sent to penal colonies in New Caledonia and French Guiana.
Lumina Sophie was sentenced to be sent to the penal colony in Saint-Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana, where she would die shortly thereafter.
Since that day, Rivière-Pilote has never stopped asserting its independence.
URBANISM
Situated at the crossroads of several communes, Rivière-Pilote is accessible in various ways.
From Sainte-Luce and Le Marin, one can take National Road 5.
National Road 8, on the other hand, provides a connection to the commune from Le Marin and Rivière-Salée.
If coming from Le Vauclin, one can use Departmental Roads 5 and 18.
Furthermore, the city, part of the Espace Sud urban community, is served by several bus lines of the "SudLib" network.
These are the lines: C1, C2, D1, D2, H, M, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.
Geography of this Municipality in the South of Martinique
The commune of Rivière-Pilote is fortunate to have a coastline.
To the southeast is the commune of Le Marin, and a bit further to the west is Sainte-Luce.
To the northwest is the commune of Saint-Esprit.
Le Vauclin, on the other hand, is to the northeast.
Moreover, the commune, with a very hilly terrain, covers an area of 35.78 km² and enjoys a tropical climate.
POLITICS
On the Paths of Marie-Jeanne!
Since 1971, the commune of Rivière-Pilote has been led by the Martinican Independence Movement.
Its most famous mayor, a prominent political figure in Martinique, is none other than Alfred Marie-Jeanne, affectionately nicknamed "Chabin" by the population.
A former general and regional councilor, deputy, president of the regional council, and then president of the executive council of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique, Alfred Marie-Jeanne has left a lasting mark on the island's political life with his personality, tenacity, and independence-minded ideas.
In 2000, he passed the torch to Lucien Veilleur, who, in turn, handed it over to Raymond Théodose in 2014.
However, since 2020, Jean-François Beaunol has been at the helm of the great city. He is determined to change the prevailing policy in Rivière-Pilote.
YOUTH
The commune has several schools distributed across its various neighborhoods.
There are:
- 3 elementary schools
- 2 preschools
- 2 primary schools
- 1 middle school
When students move on to high school, they can attend school in Le François or Le Marin.
CULTURE
What to Do in Rivière-Pilote, Day and Night?
Escape to nature
Activities in Rivière-Pilote are very focused on nature.
But they are known to be both athletic and relaxing!
- Anse Figuier Beach
- Visit to the La Mauny Distillery
- The Zombi Rock
- Stroll in the Las Palmas Garden
- Hikes to Pointe Borgnèse, Trace du Morne Gommier, Le Piton Crève-Coeur
The history of Rivière-Pilote through the stone
In terms of architecture, be it religious or cultural monuments, the history of Martinique has left its mark on us.
In the religious monuments category, you will find in Rivière-Pilote :
The Church of the Immaculate Conception
Parish of Saint-Coeur-de-Marie in Josseaud
Parish of Saint-Louis-Marie-Grignion-de-Monfort in Régale
In the museum category, you will find in Rivière-Pilote :
Traces of Amerindian heritage in Martinique have been discovered in the vicinity of the Anse Figuier beach.
IN SUMMARY
Rivière-Pilote is a very beautiful town with a rich history that it always strives to promote.
Very well located in the south of the island, it is very popular with everyone and there is something for everyone.
In addition, the new municipal team wishes to make the commune more dynamic while retaining its authenticity !
Anse Figuier Beach: One of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Martinique! Lounge on a white sandy beach and enjoy perfectly crystal-clear waters! Anse Figu...
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