Habitation Clément
Habitation Clément is considered as a font of Creole history by owning a rum distillery, plantations, and heritage.
Originally, the site was a prestigious sugarcane plantation but was sold in 1887 by the mayor Homère Clément of Le François. He is also descended from a freed black slave. He eventually turned the plantation into one of the Caribbean's most famous rum distilleries, pioneering the creation of Rhum Agricole (a rum made with fresh cane juice rather than molasses).
Habitation Clément is a 160-hectare agricultural area located in the commune of François in Martinique's southern region. This location, dominated by an 18th-century Creole mansion, rallies in the center of sugarcane farms, a vast heritage, an arts hub, acknowledged modern, and a famous rum house, and was designated as a historical monument in 1996. Nearly 100,000 people come each year to experience this unique location, which has managed to retain agricultural and industrial functions while introducing the botanical, rum, Creole, and industrial worlds, as well as teaching instruments to aid students in their exploration. In 2011, Habitation Clément was recognized as a "Famous House" in Martinique, France, and deserved to be on the list of the 7 Most Beautiful Historical Sites in Martinique.
Nowadays, visitors can experience Martinique's past and present at the 43-acre site near Le François. We begin the tour at the main house, where we can see traditional Creole architecture and furniture before exploring the annexed buildings, including the kitchen, the cashier's cabin, stables, and carriage sheds. Then take a stroll through botanical gardens, which span the former distillery's industrial wasteland and are home to more than 300 tropical plant varieties. Visitors arrive at the distillery, where we can learn about the production process, try some of Clément's well-known wines, and select our own bottles to take home. Remember to check out the galleries before we leave; they are housed in a few renovated structures and display the work of local artists.
