Domaine de Villèle, Historical monument in Saint-Paul, France
Domaine de Villèle is a plantation house with multiple buildings from the colonial period in Saint-Paul, featuring a master residence, kitchen, storage areas, and a former hospital for enslaved workers. The complex is being developed into a museum that documents colonial housing and slavery practices of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Built between 1775 and 1778 by Auguste Panon-Desbassayns, the property initially focused on coffee growing before shifting to sugar cane with a mill constructed in 1822. This change reflects the economic evolution of Reunion's agricultural sector over time.
The main residence displays furniture and decorative pieces that show how wealthy plantation families lived in colonial times, revealing social contrasts of that era. Visitors encounter daily life objects that belonged to the Creole bourgeoisie during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The site is located on Mahatma Gandhi Street and is accessible on foot from the town center, though ongoing restoration work may affect access to different sections at different times. It is helpful to check ahead which areas are open when planning a visit.
The estate preserves multiple production buildings and a chapel from the 19th century that reveal how complete plantation communities were organized. These outbuildings provide insight into the daily operations and working conditions in ways that many other preserved plantations do not.
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