Habitation Clément

Habitation Clément is a historic sugar-cane estate at Le François, on Martinique's Atlantic coast, in the domain known as Domaine de l'Acajou. Its origins lie in the plantation economy of the colonial period, when sugar and rum were the island's main exports and the estate relied on enslaved labour until abolition in 1848. In 1887 the property was acquired by Homère Clément, a physician and local political figure who later served as mayor of Le François and as a deputy, and who turned it into a major producer of rum made from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses. That style, known as rhum agricole, is protected today by the Martinique appellation. The estate's centrepiece is the main house, a Creole-style colonial residence with a veranda and wooden shutters, set among lawns and tall trees. The house has been preserved and restored, and its rooms contain period furniture and displays on the family and the history of the estate. Beside it stand the former distillery buildings, with old equipment and the chimney and boiler structures typical of sugar works, and the ageing cellars where rum matures in oak barrels. In 1991 the estate gained wider international notice when it hosted the Mitterrand and Bush meeting. The domain is also known for its gardens and sculpture park, where contemporary art is displayed outdoors among palms and flowering plants, in connection with the Fondation Clément, which has organised exhibitions of Caribbean and international artists since the 1980s. The visit is largely self-guided and blends heritage, horticulture and art, with a tasting of rum at the end. Interpretation is available in French and English in many areas. The estate is open daily from 09:00 to 17:30, with admission of about €10 for adults. Because it is a working brand as well as a museum, the commercial side, including a shop, is part of the experience. Visitors who do not drink alcohol can still enjoy the house, gardens and art.