Musée Stella Matutina, Sugar museum in Saint-Leu, Réunion
Stella Matutina Museum occupies a former sugar factory in Saint-Leu and displays the history of sugar production on the island. The building houses industrial machinery, equipment, and exhibition spaces that show how production methods developed over time.
The museum opened in 1991 in a former sugar factory, its project defined with the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie. In 2011 the Région Réunion began a full rehabilitation of the museum and site on a new scientific and cultural programme, and the renewed museum reopened on 7 June 2015. It holds the Musée de France label.
The museum documents how people settled on Reunion Island and how their work shaped the region. The exhibits tell stories about farming, labor practices, and the communities that developed around sugar production.
The museum lies in the Grand-Stella savanna area of Saint-Leu, on the west coast of Reunion, and is linked to the Musee du Sel at Pointe au Sel by that same savanna. The site includes the auditorium Pierre Roselli with 400 seats, the Emile Hugot documentation centre, a 4D cinema, a shop and a dining area. The building is a former sugar factory, so allow time for the industrial halls and the outdoor grounds.
The machines and equipment displayed come directly from the factory that now houses the museum, offering a genuine view of production techniques. This original equipment helps visitors understand industrial work in a tangible way.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,897 contributors worldwide.
