Marché central de Pointe-à-Pitre, Historical market hall in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, France.
The Marché central de Pointe-à-Pitre is a market hall with a metal structure featuring six arched trusses supported by cylindrical cast iron columns that function as water drainage. A protected fountain structure stands within the building on Place de la Liberté.
After the previous market burned down in 1871, architect Charles Trouillé designed this new building, which opened on January 17, 1874. The structure replaced an older market and marked a turning point in the commercial life of Pointe-à-Pitre.
The market serves as a gathering space where residents and visitors encounter local vendors selling regional products, fresh produce, and traditional spices from Guadeloupe. The daily activity reveals how people in this community source their food and ingredients from nearby producers.
The building is located on Place de la Liberté in the town center and opens daily for visitors to explore local goods. The experience is best in the morning when vendors have set up their stalls with fresh products.
The original metal framework was made by Maison Joly in Argenteuil, a manufacturer known for innovative 19th-century iron structures. This technical solution combined aesthetic design with practical water management systems, making it an advanced example of industrial architecture for its time.
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