Discovering the Savane des Esclaves In the municipality of Les Trois-Îlets, there is an unusual place: a village entirely reconstructed based on the model of traditional villages that existed in Martinique at the very beginning of the 20th century. The huts are reproduced identically with their roofs made of sugarcane leaves and woven wooden fences.
They are built on the beaten earth floor and include the traditional Creole garden cultivated in the old-fashioned way. This village takes you on a journey to discover the history and way of life of the former slaves in the Martinican countryside.
The Slave Savanna in Martinique: Origin of the Village
Around the year 2000, in order to preserve the Martinican heritage of his ancestors and to introduce it to visitors, Gilbert Larose, on his own and without any financial assistance, decided to create this site which he called "Antan Lontan."
He began by building a hut without walls covered with cane thatch on a piece of land granted by the municipality. Encouraged by its success, he decided to continue his project by constructing other huts, striving to faithfully reproduce the way of life of that time.
For many years, he conducted research, gathered information, and to this day, he continues his work of preserving memory.
What is the history of Martinique?
Savane des Esclaves: Discovering the Village
Open to the public since 2004, the site, despite its name, is not solely focused on slavery. It primarily showcases the difficult living conditions and working methods of Martinican farmers.
Explanatory panels in front of each building provide information to visitors. Here, the extraction of sugarcane juice using a press, elsewhere, the making of chocolate with crushed cocoa beans, or the description of a daily life scene.
You shouldn't miss the cassava hut, the large communal hut, the Memories of Our Ancestors museum, or the Creole garden, which grows medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as rare fruits and vegetables without fertilizers or pesticides.
In its majestic setting of about three hectares, the Savane des Esclaves allows you to perceive the island differently, beyond its paradisiacal beaches.
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