JEP - Richès Karayib

At the entrance to the commune of Carbet, on the Thieubert estate, the Neisson distillery opened its doors wide for the European Heritage Days. Between exhibitions, tours and meetings, the public discovered a rare industrial site, still in operation since the 1930s, and a living heritage supported by a family lineage. Founded in 1932 by brothers Jean and Adrien Neisson, the distillery remains one of the island’s last independent distilleries, anchored in Le Carbet, at the foot of Mount Pelée.

A place steeped in history and attachment

When you arrive at Neisson distillery, time seems to stand still. In the courtyard, visitors circulate between artisan stands, works of art and tasting areas. For Claudine Neisson-Vernant, manager of the distillery, these European Heritage Days are an essential moment:

“Our wish is to promote Martinique’s heritage,” she confides, smiling amidst the crowd.

Around her, the effervescence reflects an almost emotional loyalty: “I’m very happy to see the affection Martiniquais have for Neisson distillery“.
Claudine Neisson-Vernant’s recognition is the result of many years’ work: the distillery is now the only company in Martinique to have been awarded the “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (Living Heritage Company) label, a title that rewards both the quality of the know-how and the family tradition. Neisson distillery thus remains a strong landmark in Martinique’s collective memory.

Heritage architecture in its own right

By evoking the buildings, Claudine Neisson-Vernant makes the memory of the place shine. Built between 1931 and 1932, the Neisson Distillery still retains its square stone chimney, the last of its kind to operate on the island. It is listed as an architectural heritage site, as is the engine room, recognizable by its characteristic crenellations.
In the white rum cellar, the hand-bolted metal structure bears witness to the ingenuity of the builders. Claudine Neisson-Vernant hopes that other elements of the site, such as the water basin dating from the same period, will soon be recognized for their historical value.

A family business on the move

Behind this transmission, Grégory Vernant, manager of Distillerie Neisson and son of Claudine Neisson-Vernant, embodies the new generation. For him, these days are a bridge between tradition and modernity: “There’s know-how, but there’s also know-how,” he sums up.

Visitors can watch demonstrations, ask questions and chat with the teams. Grégory Vernant insists on conviviality and proximity:

“Heritage Day allows people to discover producers they don’t necessarily know about.”

Above all, he was delighted by the curiosity of the public, who came from both the north and south of the island, attracted by the authenticity of a place deeply rooted in Martinican culture, but also by the desire to discover the distillery, the arts and crafts village, and the many local artisans on hand to showcase their skills and promote local products.

The cellar master, guardian of time and aromas

Further on, in the silence of the cellar, Alex Bobi, cellar master at Neisson distillery, passionately shares the secrets of aging. His explanations captivate the audience. He speaks of wood as a living being: each species has its own personality, each barrel its own role.
The rum ages slowly, soaking up the notes of wood – vanilla, caramel, coffee, cocoa. “The older we get, the more complex the rum becomes,” he says, watching the golden light filter through the barrels.

In his words are the experience and poetry of the craft: time, heat and wood together shape the soul of rum. Nothing is set in stone, everything is transformed. Even air and humidity play their part in the final result. At Neisson distillery, ageing is not a stage, it’s a philosophy.

An approach that respects the earth

The family heritage is expressed not only in technology, but also in respect for the living world. Claudine Neisson-Vernant often refers to her father, a chemical engineer before the environmentalist era, who refused to burn the canes before cutting them, and kept chemicals to a minimum. “He always used to say: you have to give back to the earth what it has given you,” she recalls.

Even today, Neisson distillery perpetuates these practices: bagasse and vinasse, the natural by-products of production, are reused to enrich the soil. Bottles are consigned, washed and put back into circulation, a simple but demanding system that the distillery is keen to maintain despite logistical constraints.

This philosophy is also reflected in the production of a small organic garden above the site, where fruit and vegetables grow in harmony with the landscape. Here, nothing is lost: everything that comes from the earth returns to the earth. Over the generations, Neisson distillery has turned this respect for nature into a true signature.

A collective history above all

At the end of the day, the light fell on the old stones, and the distillery was filled with a rare gentleness. A concert by Victor O rounded off the Heritage Days in style. A happy Grégory Vernant sums up the spirit of these two days: “We can’t wait to do Heritage Day again next year.

Heritage is not a showcase, it’s a breath of fresh air. Visitors leave with the feeling of having touched something real: an enterprise where memory, family and land are one.
In this place, where each generation adds its stone, the European Heritage Days take on their full meaning: that of a living transmission, anchored in reality, driven by passion and loyalty to a terroir.

As part of the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine 2025 (European Heritage Days 2025), the town of Saint-Pierre has once again opted for an original way of rediscovering its history: an immersive escape game, set up in the heart of the ruins of the former prison. Designed and run by the Heritage-Culture-Tourism department, this life-size game called “Sauve qui peut!” offers participants an experience that’s both fun and deeply rooted in the memory of the place.

A site steeped in history, revisited through play

The Saint-Pierre prison is an emblematic place, forever marked by the eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902. Of this tragedy, which destroyed the entire city and claimed almost 28,000 victims, the figure of Louis-Auguste Cyparis remains, one of the best-known survivors, locked in an isolation cell whose thick walls are said to have protected him from the flames and ashes. Even today, visitors come to see “Cyparis’ dungeon”, without always taking the time to linger over the rest of the site.

It was precisely this observation that motivated the creation of the escape game,” explains Manon Kouby, cultural mediator in the town’s heritage department:

“The prison site is known, but not really known. Many people walk past without asking themselves what these spaces represent. The game allows us to rediscover its architecture and organization in a lively way.”

Cultural mediation that combines learning and participation

Conceived over six months ago, “Sauve qui peut!” is part of a participative approach to heritage. Participants progress through a game of enigmas and observation, examining the details of walls and stones to understand how the building works.

This year, the national theme of the Heritage Days – “Heritage and Architecture” – inspired a new dimension to the game.

“We included more questions on the architectural features of the site,” says Manon Kouby. “Participants spotted the bolt holes, signs of a former floor, or the stonework and basins. They took a new look at the prison, through its construction.”

Here, the escape game becomes a tool for observation and interpretation, where each clue leads not only to the solution of theescape game, but also to a better understanding of Saint-Pierre’s urban history and material heritage.

A sensitive experience of a place of memory

In the ruins of the prison, the escape game takes on a special resonance. The cracked walls, the traces of the disaster and the remains of the cells recall the fragility of the city at the time and the strength of its memory. To take part in the Escape Game is to confront this tension between past and present: to learn while having fun, while measuring the emotional impact of a tragically famous space.

This approach, supported by the Heritage-Culture-Tourism Department, illustrates a clear desire to transform the passive visit into an immersive experience.

“The aim is to give everyone access to this heritage, whether through games, guided tours or the opening of sites that are closed the rest of the year,” emphasizes the mediator. “During the month of September, we’re a bit busy, but it’s a great time.

An initiative open to all

Offered free of charge, on reservation, and for ages 8 and up (with dedicated slots for schoolchildren on Fridays), the escape game is aimed at families, schoolchildren and the curious. The initiative is part of a wider program organized by the town of Saint-Pierre for the 2025 European Heritage Days: guided tours of the prison and theater (Ville d’art et d’Histoire label mentioned on the poster), treasure hunts and a Geogaming treasure hunt, as well as the play “Juste seul, Cyparis” by Jean-Camille Sormain.

Giving new meaning to heritage, stone by stone

Beyond the event itself, the “Sauve qui peut” escape game illustrates a turning point in the way we approach heritage mediation: no longer as a simple vertical transmission, but as a collective and participative adventure.

By inviting visitors to observe, question, seek and understand, Saint-Pierre’s heritage department succeeds in bringing the memory of the 1902 disaster into dialogue with contemporary issues of transmission. Here, play is not a form of entertainment detached from reality: it becomes the vector of a link between generations, between architecture and emotion, between past and present.

In conclusion, Manon Kouby sums up the spirit of this approach with simplicity:

“Come one, come all. The European Days are a highlight, but we welcome the public all year round. All it takes is a call or an e-mail, and we’re always there.”

A heritage serving the collective memory

On the occasion of the 2025 European Heritage Days, the Frank Perret Museum opened its doors to the public. Located in the heart of Saint-Pierre, this unique site bears witness to the eruption of Mount Pelée on May 8, 1902, an event that led to the almost total destruction of the city and the death of some 28,000 people.

Founded in 1933 by American volcanologist Frank Alvord Perret, the museum is the oldest in Martinique. Its mission is clear: to pass on the history of a vanished city, once dubbed the Petit Paris of the Antilles. The Frank Perret Museum does more than simply display relics: it embodies the memory of a population struck by a sudden and universally known tragedy.

A renovation that links architecture and history

After several decades of existence, the Frank Perret Museum has been extensively renovated. In 2018, a public service contract was awarded to the Fondation Clément, the only successful candidate for the project. The building reopened its doors on May 8, 2019, a symbolic date, following work carried out by architect Olivier Compère.

The building features a sober, evocative aesthetic: the burnt-wood façade, designed using the Japanese shou-sugi-ban technique, echoes the town of Saint-Pierre, burnt and covered in ash after the eruption. The interior, now air-conditioned and structured, offers a clear, modern museography. The former single space has been transformed into three thematic rooms, allowing a more fluid reading of history: the city before the disaster, the moment of the eruption and reconstruction after 1902.

The deliberately dark architecture, reminiscent of the stigmata left by the volcano, lends the site an atmosphere of contemplation and transmission. The Frank Perret Museum is at once a scientific, educational and memorial site.

The memorial, symbolic heart of the route

At the center of the tour, the memorial to the victims occupies an essential place. This room contains over 7,000 identified names, engraved to perpetuate the memory of those who disappeared on May 8, 1902. Although the exact number of victims is estimated at 28,000, the inscription of their names gives a human dimension to the catastrophe.

The Frank Perret Frank Perret Museum also houses a collection of some 432 objects: burnt remains, ceramics, fused glass, historical documents and old photographs. These items, often found in the ruins, illustrate the brutality of the eruption and the daily life of Saint-Pierre before its disappearance.

Heritage Days: a time for sharing

The European Heritage Days are a not-to-be-missed event for the museum team. According to those in charge, this year’s event attracted a wide range of visitors, from those who had never seen the museum before to those who came back with friends and family. The number of visitors was boosted by the favorable weather on the second day, contrasting with the showers on the first.

The message is clear: the Frank Perret Museum belongs as much to the people of Martinique as it does to visitors. It is a shared heritage, which calls on everyone to remember and understand.

Labels and official recognition

Since 2004, the museum has benefited from the “Musée de France” designation, which guarantees the scientific quality of its collections and their proper conservation. Today, it is one of Martinique’s museums with this status, alongside the Musée du Père Pinchon and the Maison de la Canne.

The town of Saint-Pierre, meanwhile, has held the “Ville d’art et d’histoire” label since 1990, reinforcing the museum’s role as a reference institution for heritage. These labels testify to the importance of the site on a national level and its role in the transmission of Martinique’s heritage.

A place that combines past and future

As part of the European Heritage Days, the Frank Perret Museum is a reminder of the importance of linking history and modernity. Its contemporary architecture, rigorous scientific content and museographic layout make it an exemplary museum.

Its collections and memorial are not just about remembering: they are also about reflecting on the fragility of societies in the face of natural disasters, and the need to pass on this memory.

The Frank Perret Museum remains an essential part of Martinique: a place of history, remembrance and education which, more than a century after the disaster, continues to speak to present and future generations.

A guided tour to rediscover Fort-de-France

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, as part of the European Heritage Days the association Abitē guided the public into the heart of Fort-de-France for a guided tour of the city’s modernist heritage. For over two hours, participants wandered the streets of Martinique’s capital, discovering buildings emblematic of the modern movement, between architectural innovations, historical accounts and questions about the future of this heritage.

Louis Caillat's Antilles building

The European Heritage Days itinerary begins in front of the Antilles building at 42-44 rue Garnier-Pagès. Built in 1955 by architect Louis Caillat for the “Monplaisir group”. This seven-storey complex is one of Martinique’s first modern residential buildings.

Conceived in the tradition of Le Corbusier’s experiments “Le Corbusier” it combines shops, offices and housing. Its two elevators, rare at the time, airy walkways, entrance “verandas” and sunshades bear witness to the adaptation of modernist principles to the tropical climate. Oriented to catch the trade winds, the building offers natural ventilation of the apartments and framed views of the harbor and cathedral. A highlight of these European Heritage Days in the heart of Fort-de-France.

From the BDAF to the Merlande building: early modern daring

As you move through the city, your visit stops in front of the former headquarters of the “Banque de Développement des Antilles Françaises (BDAF)”.. Built in 1931 (Banque de la Martinique, future BDAF), it is often cited as an early example of modernism in Fort-de-France, even though its facades have undergone several alterations.

Further on, the Merlande building marks a commercial turning point. Built to house the department store “Au Printemps” department store, then renamed “Galeries Lafayette”, it embodies the emergence of an urban modernity focused on consumerism. Its roof terrace, conceived as a usable space, illustrates the innovation of modernism: transforming the roof into a “fifth façade”. It was in this spirit that the European Heritage Days reminded us of the importance of preserving the city’s commercial memory.

Plein Ciel and ventilated facades

Plein Ciel building on rue Victor-Schœlcher features a different typology: shops on the first floor, integrated parking, offices and housing on the upper floors. Its sunshade protect the west facade, while the side overlooking the Savane is more enclosed. Damaged by the 2007 earthquake, the building was reinforced with a metal structure, modifying its initial appearance.

Nearby, another building catches the eye. Known as the Mansour Chaussures building, its façade is punctuated by concrete reliefs that also serve as natural ventilation. The initials “LC” stand for the developer who financed the building, not for an architect. Claustras and original wooden joinery recall the concern to adapt modernism to local resources, a message that the European Heritage Days have chosen to highlight.

A rare example of Brutalist architecture

Rue Victor-Schœlcher, the tour pauses in front of the “Maison des Combattants”. Erected between 1970 and 1980, this building illustrates the Brutalist trend with its raw concrete and massive forms. Little represented in Martinique, this style remains a precious testimony to an international architectural era. Its spotlight during the European Heritage Days underlines just how much this discreet heritage deserves to be recognized.

The Church of Christ the King in Bethlehem: faith and modernity

The Church of Christ the King in Bethlehem built in the 1960s by architect Maurice de Lavigne Sainte-Suzanne is a major milestone. Inspired by the work of Oscar Niemeyer and marked by the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, it translates the spirit of liturgical openness into tropical architecture: sunshades and colorful light effects.

Although recent alterations (minieries and closures added in the 1990s) have altered its original purity, the church remains a jewel of Martinican religious modernism. Its presentation on the occasion of the European Heritage Days aroused great emotion among visitors.

Right next door, the “Mutualité” also catches the eye. This building, marked by the influences of art deco and modernism, is an example of a social building emblematic of the 1950s, designed to embody solidarity and progress.

La Rotonde and Hôtel Impératrice: two symbols face to face

Along the Rue de la Liberté, the tour stops in front of “La Rotonde”. Designed by Louis Caillat in 1942, this office building has been completely refurbished to become the headquarters of Crédit Agricole. Under the direction of architect Bernard Leclercq the structure was rebuilt identically and raised. This project is presented as a model: preserving the foundations and adapting rather than demolishing.

A little further on, the “Hôtel Impératrice” built in the 1940s-1950s by the Glaudon family family, exemplifies seaside modernism. Its large terraces overlooking the sea, balconies and natural ventilation recall the golden age of Caribbean touristification. As part of the European Heritage Days, this monument was seen as a symbol of Fort-de-France’s openness to the world.

The sea department and the hotel of the Collectivité Territorial de Martinique in Fort-de-France

The guide emphasized the place of concrete in Caribbean urban planning: a material that has enabled a veritable constructive revolution, but also a major source of CO₂ emissions. This stop served as a reminder of the need, today, to diversify materials, to integrate wood and metal to a greater extent, and to design a city that is more sustainable and respectful of its environment.

The old Post Office: a giant in waiting

Not far away, the old post office since the 2007 earthquake, stands out for its sheer mass. With almost 3,000 m² of floor space, the building is the subject of heated debate. For the association Abitē, the solution is clear: rather than destroying the building and generating tons of waste, it should be rehabilitated in an earthquake-resistant, less costly and more environmentally-friendly way. A message that resonates perfectly with the spirit of the European Heritage Days, which invite us to rethink the future of our heritage.

The tour also included the “Maison des Syndicats”, designed by architect Marcel Salasc and built in 1948. Still in use for its original function, it embodies the continuity of a modernist building that remains vibrant in the heart of the city.

L'Imprimerie Officielle: a bitter farewell

The tour ends in front of the “Imprimerie Officielle” built in 1936 by engineer Donat Honoré. Designed to print government documents, it housed workshops, offices, storage galleries and the director’s house.

Labelled Outstanding Contemporary Architecture, the building is scheduled for demolition in the days following the visit. A traffic circle project is due to take its place. For the Abitē association, the loss is immense: this site could have become a writers’ house, a city museum or a civic space. The final group photo, taken in front of its facade, seals a collective farewell to a major witness to modern heritage, reminding us that every edition of the European Heritage Days is also a moment of vigilance.

Modernist heritage and the city's future

From the Antilles building to the Imprimerie Officielle, this guided tour revealed the richness and fragility of Fort-de-France’s modernist heritage of Fort-de-France. Each stop told the story of an era, and posed a question for today: should we preserve, rehabilitate or demolish?

Through the stories of Louis Caillat, Maurice de Lavigne Sainte-Suzanne or Donat Honoré, the capital of Martinique reveals a little-known face of inventive tropical modernity. More than an architectural tour, the visit posed a question: what future can we give to the architecture that has shaped the city, and that could still nourish it tomorrow?

And that’s what the European Heritage Days are all about: walking, observing, discussing and, above all, sharing.

For the European Heritage Days 2025, Martinique has put the spotlight on a singular place: Habitation Beauséjour located in Grand-Rivière. With its artisanal distillery and exceptional botanical garden, this family estate illustrates the island’s rich heritage, at the crossroads of history, agriculture and cultural transmission.

An estate steeped in history

The Habitation Beauséjour has its roots in the XIXᵉ century. As current owner Jean-Louis de Lucy reminds us :

“First and foremost, it’s a very old property, dating back to the early 19th century in its current state.”

After a long hiatus, the distillery came back to life in 2020. “We restarted the distillery in 2020 with a still distillation system”, he explained. This restart symbolized the desire to preserve an artisanal tradition faithful to the spirit of the old Creole houses.

The rebirth of a traditional distillery

The Habitation Beauséjour has opted for a production closely linked to the terroir. “We have… sugar cane on the estate, less than 500 meters away. These plots are harvested entirely by hand”, explains cellar master Marin Bressac. a new addition to the team.

Three varieties of cane are grown: vanilla cane, which is finer and sweeter, and the traditional red and blue cane. “In the different plots, we have three varieties… vanilla cane… red cane and blue cane”, explained Marin Bressac. Every day, a ton of cane is crushed, yielding around 800 liters of juice.

The choice of alembic distillation is a strong marker. “Our particularity… is still distillation”, emphasized Marin Bressac, where the majority of Caribbean rums are column distilled. This method gives rise to a rum produced in just 20,000 bottles a year.

Varied, carefully-crafted cuvées

At the Habitation Beauséjour, the range reflects a quest for authenticity. White rums are aged in stainless steel tanks, while aged rums benefit from a variety of barrels. “In barrels, we have new barrels and older barrels… used for red wine, white wine, cognac, armagnac”, explained Marin Bressac.

The ages spoke for themselves: “Our VO is at least 3 to 4 years old… the VSOP around 4 to 6 years old”, he added. The combined use of young casks, bringing roundness and woodiness, and second-fill casks from other wines and spirits, offers a wide range of aromas from ripe fruit to sweet spices.

An exceptional botanical garden

The other richness of Habitation Beauséjour lies in its vast garden. “…a vast garden of some two and a half hectares, inhabited by more than 400 varieties of plants and flowers, making it the most varied garden in America,” emphasized Jean-Louis de Lucy.

This biodiversity, rare in the Caribbean, forms a heritage setting where nature converses with Creole history. Visitors were able to take advantage of this exceptional opening during the European Heritage Days.

A place to visit and share

The Habitation Beauséjour welcomed a large audience for this 2025 edition. As Jean-Louis de Lucy explains, “we open the gardens to the public twice a year: at the beginning of June for the Journées au Jardin and in September for the Journées du Patrimoine”. Throughout the year, the distillery remains accessible, but the large gardens are only opened at these two special times. In Grand-Rivière, this event attracted both local and foreign visitors. “We sell almost all of our products on the local market… we don’t need to export,” he added, underlining the estate’s traditional, Martinican roots.

The European Heritage Days highlighted a unique place where history, nature and craftsmanship meet. Habitation Beauséjour is a living transmission of Martinique’s rum and botanical heritage. With its exceptional rum and rich plant life, this estate offers visitors a rare experience, confirming the essential place of Creole dwellings in the Caribbean cultural landscape.

Le Grand Rivière Bridge was honored during the European Heritage Days 2025 dedicated this year to architectural heritage. Located in the far north of Martinique, in the commune of Grand-Rivière, also known as Gorivia. The bridge, “the end of the end”, played host to a visit that moved both locals and visitors alike. This structure, built in the 1960s, is more than just a bridge: it embodies the memory of a long-isolated village, and the courage of men and women who built their future with their own hands.

A village between rivers and cliffs

Since the XVIIᵉ century, Grand-Rivière has been perceived as a hard-to-reach place. Father Labat, who came to celebrate mass here in 1694, already spoke of a place “coup de gorge”, enclosed between rivers and cliffs. Yet this situation has shaped a singular identity. The story goes that to go to Fort-de-France was to “travel”, so time-consuming and demanding was the journey. The expression has stuck, like a discreet pride in belonging to a territory apart.
From 1640 the first dwelling, later called Boséjou. This date marks the beginning of an organized territory, despite the isolation and harshness of the area.

Before the bridge: cobblestones and patience

Long before the major works, the exit from Grand-Rivière was via the route de Mòngraji 2.5 kilometers of steep, often muddy terrain, sometimes taking over an hour to cross. The men and women had paved this path with stones carried in baskets, stone by stone. This patience and endurance are already a reflection of a people who have never shied away from difficulty.

A construction site for all residents

In 1962, the project to build the Grand Rivière Bridge begins. The project was entrusted to the Achille company (for the concrete pillars) and the Pendavoine brothers from Lille (for the steel structure). But what is most memorable is that the whole village took part.

Young men become laborers. The women pave the roads, carrying the stones on their heads in carahibean baskets. Every lunchtime, the children bring the meal up to their fathers on site. The pillars are cast without interruption for 24 hours, and the materials brought up the steep road. Every gesture, every breath counted.

A set of specifications provided for a every ten years of the structure, proof of the seriousness of the project. But history also has its unforeseen events: the Pendavoine company, which supplied the steel structure, ran into difficulties after the Biafra war an episode still recounted by our elders.

In 1964, the Grand Rivière Bridge was completed. It is 70 meters height 6 metres wide 3.40 meters it can support up to 30 tons. Its metal structure, nicknamed by locals the “Reclining Eiffel Tower” is designed to withstand tremors and even earthquakes. A technical feat for its time, but above all a human symbol.

A bridge without inauguration, but not without memory

Highlight: the Grand Rivière Bridge was never officially inaugurated. No ribbon, no speech. Yet every family has a story to tell about its construction. Some workers left every morning, not knowing if they’d be back in the evening. Others remember a cab driver, discovering the structure for the first time, asking in Creole: “Ki diab ki fè pont ta la?” (What devil made this bridge?). And one of the builders, shown in a photo from the period, replied, pointing to his hands: “Mi diable la ki fè sa” (Here’s the devil who did it).

Even today, some fifty names are listed as those of the builders. They’re not just workers: they’re faces, families and stories that make the heart of the Grand Rivière Bridge.

The water people

Grand-Rivière is known as the “people of the water”. Here, houses are built directly in the riverbed, around the stones rather than moving them. The Kalinagos have inherited this knowledge: living with water rather than against it. Grand Rivière Bridge is a logical extension of this intimate relationship between the river, the sea and its inhabitants.

Saved by looks, protected by memory

There was a time when there was talk of demolishing the bridge and building a new one. What saved it? Photos. The Grand Rivière Bridge has become one of Martinique‘s most photographed sites. The images, broadcast everywhere, have protected this heritage. Today, it still stands, sometimes softly illuminated at night, without disturbing the surrounding wildlife.

Why come to Grand-Rivière?

To come to Grand-Rivière is to understand what it means to “build together”. It means walking on the Grand Rivière Bridge which not only links two shores, but also generations. You’ll feel the history of a village that has turned its isolation into strength.

Le Grand Rivière Bridge is not just a passageway: it’s a living memory, a heritage passed on with pride, and a call to respect the beauty of things built with courage and solidarity.

An emblematic event of the European Heritage Days

On Friday, September 19, 2025, the Bibliothèque Schoelcher in Fort-de-France hosted the conference “Heritage on the move in the digital age”.. Part of the JEP 2025 devoted to architectural heritage, the meeting was held as an extension to the exhibition Bibliotech exhibition, presented from September 6 to 27 by Georges-Emmanuel Arnaud creator of still and moving images.

A listed monument since 1973, the Schoelcher Library has not only provided a symbolic setting. It became a space for dialogue between past and future, between historical heritage and digital innovations. The event, which was free and open to all, attracted a varied audience of students, researchers, cultural enthusiasts and institutional representatives. JEP 2025 provided an opportunity to combine an iconic location with forward-looking thinking.

A singular career in the service of images and heritage

A native of Le Vauclin, Georges-Emmanuel Arnaud claims a multiple identity. Trained as a photographer, he worked in the world of fashion for over fifteen years, for Dior, Chanel and Armani. He signed his images under the pseudonym “Damage” an anagram of his name, before returning to Martinique to devote himself to a more personal approach.

He defines himself as a “technician-artist” he adds: “I try to have a purpose and to put all these techniques that I master at the service of this approach.”

Exploring photography, video, retouching and bronze sculpture in turn, he has focused on the theme of the monstrous body. The group’s work explores differences, disability and human frailty. In tribute to his daughter Kénia, he founded the Studio Caria, a laboratory for artistic and digital experimentation. These experiences, now shared across JEP 2025 give his work a special resonance.

Digital technology as a transmission lever

For the past twenty years, Georges-Emmanuel Arnaud has been involved in digital heritage enhancement. Through his association Anisotropie he has initiated a number of innovative projects:

– Séquence Éphémère : Motion capture of traditional gestures (bèlè, ladja, agricultural practices, culinary gestures) to create a living archive that can be compared with other Caribbean and African cultures.
– Caribbean Archaeology : a digital platform where archaeological objects can be viewed in 3D, accompanied by multilingual notes and podcasts.
– Nécropole : a project to digitize the cemeteries of Le Vauclin, linking graves, family archives and old photographs to build a shared genealogical memory.

These initiatives are made possible thanks to the support of the Direction des Affaires Culturelles, which financed motion capture equipment.

For Georges-Emmanuel Arnaud, the stakes are clear: “Digital technology is here to help us project ourselves into tomorrow’s world.”

Here again, the JEP 2025 provide an ideal stage for demonstrating how innovation and memory can go hand in hand.

A conference at the crossroads of heritage and innovation

For almost two hours, the speaker mixed personal accounts, technical demonstrations and philosophical reflections. Images and sequences illustrated how a gesture, a voice, a sculpture or a site could become an archive thanks to digital technologies.

The slogan “Heritage on the move in the digital age” took on its full meaning when the digitization of Montravail’s engraved rocks, the analysis of gestures in the kitchen, the prevention of occupational hazards through motion capture and the 3D reconstruction of the Schoelcher Library itself were discussed. The artist recalled that similar technologies had enabled the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris after the fire.

He also mentioned his collaboration with John Dauer, the director associated with GTA in Martinique to experiment with the use of digital technology in a heritage context. Proof that local skills can resonate with international expertise. These concrete examples, shared as part of the JEP 2025 show the power of cross-fertilization between cultures and disciplines.

A space for dialogue with the public

The conference was more than just a monologue. There was plenty of audience participation, with questions on site conservation, the use of personal archives and the future of funeral rituals. These exchanges highlighted the Necropolis which links individual and collective memory through the digitization of cemeteries.

The discussion also focused on the definition of heritage: should it be limited to monuments and objects, or include gestures, sounds and voices? Georges-Emmanuel Arnaud’s answer was unequivocal: heritage is alive, in perpetual motion, and must be understood before it can be reproduced. This reflection gave the conference an intensity that will remain as one of the essential contributions of the JEP 2025 in Martinique.

JEP 2025 as an institutional and civic catalyst

Holding this conference as part of the JEP 2025 highlighted cooperation between institutions, associations and citizens. “Direction des Affaires Culturelles”, the “Collectivité Territoriale de Martinique” the teams at the Schoelcher Library, as well as other partners such as Anisotropie, Armada, 150mètres d’altitude, Zeesmind and Seize mètres carrés, made this event possible.

Georges-Emmanuel Arnaud emphasized the value of this collective dynamic: “These are private, public, human, human and more human.”

He also recalled, with a critical touch, the lack of sustainable support from certain bodies, while insisting on citizen responsibility: “The future of our territory and the future of our heritage depend on us alone.”

JEP 2025 are therefore an ideal opportunity to highlight this institutional and civic dialogue, which is vital to the enhancement of our heritage.

A strong message to young people

Beyond technology, Georges-Emmanuel Arnaud had a direct message for the younger generation: “You have to have an Internet connection. You have to log on to YouTube and learn (…) Learning is our only duty as human beings.”

Convinced that access to knowledge is universal, he invites everyone to seize free resources, develop their skills and contribute to the transmission of knowledge. He himself makes himself available to accompany those who wish to progress.

And he concludes with a striking phrase: “You have to put your faith in people, not in resources.”

These words, shared at JEP 2025, sound like a call to commitment and autonomy.

A heritage on the move, from Martinique to the world

The “Heritage on the move in the digital age” conference was not limited to Martinique. It opened up Caribbean and international perspectives.

Through his projects, Georges-Emmanuel Arnaud links Martinique to other Caribbean islands and to Africa. Capturing dances and agricultural practices enables cross-cultural comparisons to be made, links to be forged between continents, and local heritage to be placed in a global context.

More broadly, this reflection reflects global issues: how can we preserve heritages threatened by climate change, erosion or oblivion? How can we transmit intangible knowledge in an increasingly digital world?

Through this conference, part of the JEP 2025 conference, Martinique has shown that it can be a laboratory for answers.

A highlight of JEP 2025 in Martinique

By linking memory, innovation and civic engagement the “Heritage on the move in the digital age” conference was a highlight of the JEP 2025.

She reminded us that heritage should not be static, but recognized as a living, constantly evolving resource. Digital technology makes it possible not only to preserve it, but also to open it up to new horizons, from the Caribbean to the rest of the world.

Through this conference, part of the JEP 2025 conference, Martinique has shown that it can be a laboratory for answers.

A visit like no other for Sciences Po students

On September 20, 2025, on the occasion of the European Heritage Days (JEP 2025), this year under the theme of “Patrimoine des itinéraires, Patrimoine architectural”, the doors of the “Préfecture de la Martinique” were opened to a group of Political Science students.

Guided by Florence Declaveillere, Architecte des Bâtiments de France and head of the Unité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine / Conservation des Monuments Historiques at the DAC Martinique, these young people explored much more than just an administrative building. They plunged into the history of an exceptional building, at the crossroads of local identity, regal power and the art of building in a tropical environment, during JEP 2025.

Sharing the State: a privileged exchange with the Prefect

One of the highlights of the visit was a tour of the prefecture and the Prefect’s office, followed by a discussion in one of the prefecture’s meeting rooms. A place usually reserved for official decisions, open here to the curiosity and questions of an engaged youth.

Students were able to ask questions about the role of the state representative, the challenges of local governance and the professions of public administration. A warm and inspiring discussion, punctuated by a group photo, gave a human face to the institution.

Prior to this time of institutional exchange, the students had explored the prefecture and discovered the keys to its architecture thanks to explanations from Florence Declaveillere, as part of the JEP 2025 program.

A monument to Martinique's history

Built between 1923 and 1928 by architect Jules Germain Olivier the prefecture’s main building is the successor to an earlier 18th-century wooden colonial complex.

In 1946, following the departmentalization of Martinique, it became the headquarters of the prefecture. This “palace” is organized around an avenue of honor and adjoining administrative buildings, designed to assert the presence of the State in Martinique.

Tropical and majestic architecture

Inspired by the Petit Trianon and Haussmann architecture, the building adopts a tropicalized neoclassical style. With its symmetrical façade, superimposed Doric and Ionic architectural orders, wide grand staircase and four-sloped roofs, the building is designed to combine aesthetics, functionality and adaptation to the climate.

Large wooden shutters, covered galleries and natural ventilation ensure comfort without modern artifice. Art Deco wrought-iron doors and stucco decorations reinforce the heritage value of the whole. It’s precisely this type of heritage engineering that JEP 2025 is highlighting, with a reminder of the wealth of architectures adapted to tropical climates.

A symbol of the state, but also of the people

A place of power, the prefecture is also a witness to major events in local history: the eruption of Montagne Pelée, the agricultural exhibitions of the 1920s, and the tercentenary celebrations of the island’s attachment to France in 1935.

In 1990, the building was officially listed as a historical monument. It thus became an object of memory, both institutional and cultural. JEP 2025 also reminds us of this role of transmission: understanding the history of a place to better grasp its collective value.

Tropical problems, heritage solutions

Like all old buildings in tropical environments, the prefecture has to cope with termites, cyclones, earthquakes and the erosion of time. Several renovations have been carried out, notably in 1996, 2013, and after the fire in the Salle Félix Éboué.

But conservation is not enough. You also have to adapt: make it accessible, make it safe, modernize it, while respecting the soul of the place. This is what Florence Declaveillere conveys to her students: heritage conservation is not about freezing things, it’s about bringing them to life, a principle at the heart of JEP 2025.

A heritage for today and tomorrow

This behind-the-scenes look at a place of power enabled the students to discover a functional and symbolic heritage, where every architectural detail tells a piece of history.

Martinique’s prefecture is not stuck in the past: it continues to transmit, adapt and inspire. A living lesson in heritage, in keeping with the ambitions of the Journées du Patrimoine 2025 (JEP 2025).

The press conference organized in the gardens of the Direction des affaires culturelles (DAC) marked the presentation of the program for the 42ᵉ edition of the “European Heritage Days in Martinique “, placed this year under the theme. “Architectural Heritage.

The meeting, held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 5pm, brought together artists, partners and institutions, in the presence of Nathalie Mons, Rector of the Académie de Martinique, and the ABITE architectural firm, designers of the exhibition itinerary. On this occasion, three exhibitions were unveiled: the photographic works of Jean-Louis Saiz and Nicolas Derné, and the installation by Hélène Raffestin.

As soon as the conference opened, the organizing team announced 139 events registered for the weekend’s program – a figure updated “after moderation”. The day of Friday (the day before the Heritage Weekend) is dedicated to schools schoolchildrenA special welcome and mediation service is available for classes and teachers, subject to any strike-related disruptions. L’Open Agenda serves as a rallying point for all proposals on the territory, facilitating the linking of schools and cultural sites within the framework of the European Heritage Days in Martinique.

Three perspectives on the same heritage

Jean-Louis Saiz: the “aesthetics of the encounter

Photographer and author, Jean-Louis Saiz claims to work “on reality” and “on the authenticity of the image”. His approach can be summed up in one formula: “the aesthetics of the encounter. He doesn’t do studio portraits or journalistic commissions: “I’ve photographed great actors, directors and dancers, but always from a singular encounter,” he confides. His chosen terrain? The working-class neighborhoods of Martinique, surveyed “like a quest for the end of the world”, where photography becomes “a mirror of life”.

Born “in a shantytown in France”, Saiz expresses his attachment to the people, his refusal of racist presuppositions, and his desire to make the image a human link that reveals, at the moment of shooting, what is at stake “between two beings”. His participation in the European Heritage Days in Martinique illustrates this desire to highlight faces and places too often ignored.

Hélène Raffestin: revealing the singularities of buildings

Creator and plastic designer, Hélène Raffestin presents an installation inspired by several collections that revisit our architectural heritage: cement tiles from the Schœlcher library, wrought-iron balconies from the Saint-Esprit, motifs and structures from historic homes (right down to the ventilation grilles). “I had the impression that this beauty was drowned in a whole. My job is to extract these singularities and show them in a contemporary light”, she explains.

With its confrontation of materials, colors and details, his proposal is not only aesthetic: it invites us to look differently at what surrounds us. His approach is naturally in keeping with the spirit of the European Heritage Days in Martinique, where the enhancement of buildings becomes a vehicle for transmission and collective pride.

Nicolas Derné: telling the neighbourhood story from the inside

Photographer for over fifteen years in Martinique, Nicolas Derné claims “the energy of the moment” and the desire to tell stories. His images – notably from the book A stroll through the city’s political districts – offer an inside look on places that are too often observed “from above”. For the Journées du patrimoine, he emphasizes that buildings are more than just facades: “There’s life in them”, he says, advocating a “new way of looking at things”. collective reappropriation.

His message sounds like a reminder that, while we may sometimes turn our gaze outwards, “the world often looks in on us”, so much so that the richness of the region is underestimated. underestimated. As part of the European Heritage Days in Martinique, his work offers an embodied narrative, centered on the inhabitants…

"A heritage, a present, a future": the institutional framework

Appointed February 3, 2025, Johan-Hilel Hamel Martinique’s Director of Cultural Affairs, sets the scene: heritage is a shared legacy, embracing the past, present and future. In addition to the built and movable heritage, he points out the fragility of intangible heritage – culinary, musical and physical traditions – and the importance of a “common heritage”. public policy protection and transmission.

He highlights the very strong momentum of the Journées in Martinique, their record attendanceand the choice of a broad heritage angle that includes, alongside the “great sites”, the heritage of working-class neighborhoods, military heritage and know-how. From this perspective European Heritage Days in Martinique help to reconcile memories and bring citizens together around a plural history.

Program highlights: sites, mediation, young audiences

The conference detailed a itinerary throughout the island, including the following highlights:

✅ Military heritage Exceptional opening of Fort Saint-Louis (guided tour, lectures by INRAP and the Association des archéologues des Petites Antilles, workshops and meetings with sailors), presence of the SNSM and other forces. The Germinal surveillance frigate is open to visitors on Saturdays only (access via the harbour master’s office, on the cruise terminal side).
✅ Dwellings and know-how: events, demonstrations (metal sculpture, drumming, ceremonies, meetings with craftsmen and artists), with a spotlight on the “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” label as a reminder of the transmission of trades.

✅ Saint-Pierre Saint-Pierre: rallies, immersive escape games in the former prison (around Cyparis), guided tours combining a reading of the buildings and a historical approach, digital treasure hunts via the Geogaming application.
✅ Fort-de-France Fort-de-France: workshops on facade reading and architecture (classes, Foyal modernism trail), urban strolls and focus on emblematic buildings (sometimes with a tribute to buildings slated for demolition).
✅ Archaeology: encounters and workshops in archaeological gestures, dedicated conferences (Anse Bélair/Bélet, Saint-Jacques, etc.), to get a feel for the method and heritage investigation.

This year, the emphasis is on mediation and education, particularly for young visitors: Friday’s event, dedicated to schoolchildren, enables them to discover the sites from the inside, learn about architectural concepts (vocabulary, grammar of the façade), and recontextualize primitive architecture (Ajoupa, Carbet, etc.) within the long history of the region. An essential part of the European Heritage Days in Martinique.

Beyond the weekend: memory and transmission on stage

In line with this heritage enhancement, the conference gave the floor to cultural partners around a multi-disciplinary show put on by France-Antilles for its 60th anniversary. Conceived as a journey through time – from the first air links to the rise of zouk, via key figures and dates – the show is aimed at everyone, especially young people, to revive collective memory through music, dance and theater. The staging promises an emotional elevator, alternating tributes and celebrations, to tell the story of what Martinique has become. This extension illustrates the desire of the European Heritage Days in Martinique to link heritage and contemporary creation.

A moment of sharing

The presentation concluded with a “pot de contact” outside: a time for informal encounters where artists, mediators, partners and visitors extended the exchanges. In the hall and gardens of the DAC, the three exhibitions – Saiz, Derné and Raffestin – will remain on display, allowing the public to return, take their time and, above all, look differently. A gesture fully in keeping with the spirit of the European Heritage Days in Martinique.

Looking differently: an invitation

By bringing together three artists’ perspectives and a clear institutional vision, the 42ᵉ edition of the European Heritage Days in Martinique assumes a wager: to make architectural heritage a lever of pride and transmission. Jean-Louis Saiz’s images, Hélène Raffestin’s visual writing and Nicolas Derné’s photographic narratives make up a sensitive triptych: the human, the detail, the interior. Supported by the DAC, the program – 139 events announced at the conference – is a concrete way of reconciling memories throughout the region: through encounters, mediation, experience, and care for the materials and gestures that make up the soul of the country.

The European Heritage Days 2025 will be held on September 20 and 21. This event, which has become a not-to-be-missed event in Europe and in France, is being staged on the island, with a central theme: architecture.

This 42ᵉ edition, which will see more than thirty sites spread between the North, Centre and South open to the public, offers guided tours, exhibitions, conferences, shows and educational workshops. It illustrates the diversity and richness of Martinique’s plural heritage, where Creole houses, historic distilleries, colonial monuments and modern buildings all coexist.

Architecture, the mirror of Martinique

This year’s theme, “architectural heritage” takes on a singular dimension in Martinique. Here, architecture tells the story of a mixed-race people: modest wooden houses, modernist buildings, flower-filled patios, steep staircases, but also large-scale industrial or religious buildings.

For Johan-Hilel Hamel, Director of Cultural Affairs, “Martinique’s architecture embodies plurality and creolization”. It reflects social change and economic difficulties, but also collective pride. It is this complexity that European Heritage Days 2025 want to highlight.

Northern highlights

The northern part of the island offers no less than 17 events. The island’s maritime, religious, industrial and scientific heritage.

📅 La Trinité : the Caravelle lighthouse is open to visitors for an intimate exploration in small groups.
📅 Saint-Pierre : a veritable open-air museum, a number of events are scheduled, including in-depth tours of the town and a play entitled “Juste Seul Cyparis”. “Juste Seul Cyparis” workshops, an escape game in the former prison and a heritage rally for young and old.
📅 The Earth Sciences Discovery Center will also feature an innovative earthquake-proof building.

📅 Le Morne-Rouge will honor the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory the key to monitoring Montagne Pelée.
📅 Grand’Rivière : visit the metal bridges built in 1964 will serve as a reminder of the ingenuity of Martinique’s engineers.
📅 Le Carbet is organizing a night hike while Le Prêcheur proposes the Deep Time Walk retracing 4.6 billion years of earth history.
📅 Iconic distilleries also open their doors: Neisson in Carbet, Hardy in Tartane, and the Habitation Saint-James in Sainte-Marie.
📅 Finally, in Basse-Pointe, l’Habitation La Salle a former sugar refinery dating back to the XVIᵉ century, provides an opportunity to revisit the origins of the sugar economy.

These initiatives are a reminder that the European Heritage Days 2025 are also an opportunity to showcase sites that are rarely accessible.

Discoveries at the Centre

The island center will feature 11 events around Fort-de-France, Schoelcher and Saint-Joseph.

📅 Fort-de-France : the Museum of Archaeology and Prehistory will present a lecture on the functions and materials of architecture.
📅 The Schœlcher Library will host the exhibition “Bibliotech” exhibition and a conference on heritage in the digital age.
📅 The Prefecture of Martinique inspired by the Petit Trianon, will also open its doors, as will the Fort Tartenson.
📅 Finally, the Maison Rouge, Maison des Arts will be offering an original initiation combining dance and heritage.
📅 At Schoelcher, visitors can take part in a modelling workshop based on Amerindian petroglyphs a cultural quiz and open house with Watabwi between contemporary art and gastronomy.
📅 In Saint-Joseph, the Grande Loge de France will exceptionally unveil its architectural and historical secrets.

So many opportunities that show just how much the European Heritage Days 2025 also provide food for thought on the future of cultural practices.

A South between heritage and modernity

The South is not to be outdone, with 6 events events.

📅Au Marin the public can experience the Deep Time Walk and discover the Grand-Fonds dwelling, a former sugar dwelling. The town’s port will be alive with two maritime events: the Pagaye d’Or a traditional yawl race, and the Yole Women’s Cup a brand-new women’s competition.
📅 Sainte-Anne an open day will give access to an artist’s studio, for a direct exchange around creation and heritage.
📅 In Trois-Îlets, a guided tour traces the evolution of the town’s architectural heritage, between ancient heritage and contemporary urbanism.

These events confirm the determination of the European Heritage Days 2025 to bring people closer to their history, while highlighting modern practices.

A heritage enhanced by publishing and transmission

Alongside the tours, the Éditions Hervé Chopin republish the book Historic Monuments of Martiniquewith new notes and previously unpublished photographs. This book, produced with the DAC Martinique and the Clément Foundation. This website lists all the sites classified and listed as historical monuments.

Operation “Raise your eyes” on September 19 for schoolchildren, will enable them to discover exhibitions, films and educational workshops, with a particular focus on the Martinique yole and working-class neighborhoods. Once again, the European Heritage Days 2025 demonstrate their role in transmitting heritage to future generations.

Institutions open up to the public

Several emblematic locations will welcome the public:

✅ la Prefecture of Martinique,
✅ the Schœlcher Library,
✅ the DAC Martinique with its “Temwanyaj” and Hélène Raffestin exhibitions,

will offer a crossroads between classical heritage and contemporary creation.

The Stéphane Bern mission and the restoration of the Gueydon Fountain

The Gueydon fountain in Fort-de-France has been selected as an emblematic project for 2025 by the Heritage Mission. Built in 1856, it symbolized the arrival of drinking water in the capital. Now in a state of disrepair, it will be restored at a cost of 2.7 million euros. The project includes re-watering, lighting, landscaping and the creation of a convivial square.

This project, part of the European Heritage Days 2025 program, illustrates the desire to combine memory and urban revitalization.

Key figures for Martinique's heritage

✅125 protected buildings : 23 of which are classified as historic monuments.
✅ 109 protected furnishings including the three-masted ship Le Toumelinthe only listed ship in the West Indies.
✅ 1 Town of Art and History Saint-Pierre.
✅ 7 remarkable gardens, 5 Maisons des Illustres, 25 remarkable contemporary architectures.
✅ 15 buildings selected by the “Patrimoine en péril” program.

These data put the European Heritage Days 2025 in a broader perspective, where architecture is revealed as an essential vector of memory and identity.

Partners and collective commitment

This edition is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the DAC Martinique, the Clément Foundation, Fondation du Patrimoine, the Française des Jeux via the Loto du Patrimoine, as well as numerous associations and local authorities.

Visit European Heritage Days 2025 are much more than a series of visits: they are an invitation to understand the evolution of the territory through its architecture, to strengthen the link between generations and to affirm the island’s plural identity.

With 34 events in the North, Centre and South the re-publication of a reference work, initiatives for young people and a major restoration project, Martinique proves that its heritage is heritage, memory and future.