Murat Ecomuseum of Grand-Bourg

The Murat estate in Grand-Bourg is a place of memory that will take you through a past with two facets: the fascinating history of three centuries of sugar production in Guadeloupe during the colonial era and the more unsettling period of slavery.

The Murat estate was once the most powerful plantation in Guadeloupe, with up to 307 slaves in 1839. However, the abolition of slavery in 1848, competition from more efficient sugar factories, and the collapse of sugar prices eventually led to the cessation of its commercial and slave activities.

In neoclassical style, the majestic master's residence reflects the architectural knowledge of talented slaves, skilled workers assisted by European craftsmen. Today, you can visit the estate, which houses an exhibition center. Three centuries of sugar cane history are presented to you.

Overlooking the sea on the heights of Grand-Bourg, this early 19th-century sugar estate is now home to the Ecomuseum of Popular Arts and Traditions of Marie-Galante. The General Council, owner of the site, has carried out significant restoration work on the buildings.

The quality of the dressed stone masonry of the windmill and its crest, also carved in stone, attest to evident craftsmanship.

Not far from there, an imposing circular platform surrounded by a wall creating an enclosure suggests the location of the animal-powered mill. Operating simultaneously with the windmill, the latter increased the capacity for extracting cane juice. In the ruins of the sugar factory itself, we learn that it contained 9 boilers, demonstrating the estate's power. Behind the residence, the animal enclosure has been transformed into a medicinal garden, unique in the region, inspired by the island's naturalist knowledge.

Finally, near the pond surrounded by century-old trees, three huts made of sticks, replicas of the miserable shelters where the 'captives' were crammed, speak volumes about the precarious living conditions of the slaves who worked on the plantations.

Nine hiking trails are available to you on the island of Marie-Galante, including the Murat trail. The starting point is right in front of the Murat estate in Grand-Bourg. This hike is fairly easy, but you should still allow 3 hours to complete the 8 km loop. 

Make sure to bring good, closed-toe hiking shoes, as well as water and sun protection. Interesting spots along this hike include the Murat estate, the Coulée Ouliée, the Mare au Punch, and the old Pirogue sugar mill.