Usine de Beaufonds, Sugar factory in Saint-Benoît, Réunion Island.
The Usine de Beaufonds is a former sugar processing plant in Saint-Benoît located near the Ravine Sèche bridge and distinguished by a tall brick chimney. The site contains multiple industrial buildings scattered across the grounds and now houses the Rivière du Mât rum distillery.
The facility began sugar processing in 1827 and remained central to eastern Réunion's economic development for over 160 years. Its closure in 1996 ended an industrial era, though the rum distillery's arrival in 1986 had already set the ground for a fresh purpose.
The factory embodies sugar production heritage on Réunion Island and shows how central this industry was to local livelihoods. The chimney and buildings stand as reminders of the workers and craftsmanship that shaped daily life here for generations.
The site is best explored on foot, allowing you to view the industrial buildings and distinctive chimney from the outside. Access to the grounds is limited since it remains an active production facility, but the exterior architecture can be appreciated from the surrounding roads.
The impressive chimney earned historical monument status in 2002 and remains protected. Developers are planning to transform sections of the site into a hemp processing facility while preserving its historical value.
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