Discover, rediscover the Habitation Clément If you are passing through Le François , why not make a small detour to the Clément distillery or Habitation Clément to learn more about the local history and culture? Located in the heart of a sugar cane plantation, the place will introduce you to the work of this tropical grass that made the success of the island.
Habitation Clément Martinique: A Symbolic Place of Martinican Culture
An "Habitation" refers to the cultivated estate, the owner's house, and various buildings used for exploitation. Habitation Clément is the perfect place to discover the activities of a distillery, the workers' way of life, and the rum-making process.
This estate has been used since the 18th century. It gained much importance in the 19th century under the name Domaine de l'Acajou. The place then expanded significantly. The estate was bought in 1887 by Martinique's first black doctor, Homère Clément.
The Clément distillery in Martinique was established in 1917. The Acajou rum was born and enjoyed tremendous success worldwide. However, the distillery aged, and in 1886, it was bought and then abandoned two years later. It was then transformed into a museum. Besides production buildings and machinery, you can find a beautiful botanical garden there today.
Discover the other distilleries
What to see at Habitation Clément?
It is obvious, the place is a privileged witness of the island’s past. A visit will help to better understand the rum-making process from the sugar cane harvest to bottling. Here you can observe the different installations (steam machines, grinders?).
Visitors have the possibility to circulate between different levels that follow the process of manufacturing the precious liquid. The master house is also an essential step in the discovery. Here one can observe the cleverness of the architects who have integrated a natural climate control system and the beauty of colonial style furniture. One will also go through the stables and kitchens.
The Clément dwelling was classified as a historical monument in 1996. In addition to the history of sugar cane cultivation and the distillery, it is also possible to discover young Martinique artists on site. Having become an enterprise foundation aiming to enhance local art, the former distillery presents beautiful exhibitions.
