On 31 August, the Fondation du patrimoine — France’s national heritage foundation — published the list of 100 sites selected for the new edition of the Loto du patrimoine, the heritage lottery that funds restoration work across the country. For Guadeloupe, the site chosen is the Habitation Silène, in Pointe-Noire. The news delights us: the town is our direct neighbour on the Côte-sous-le-Vent, around twenty minutes’ drive from our rentals.
A wooden house in the heart of the town
Built in the first half of the twentieth century, the Habitation Silène is a two-storey colonial timber building topped with an attic level. It stands a few steps from Pointe-Noire’s town hall, the work of architect Ali-Georges Tur, which has been listed as a historic monument since 1992. For anyone interested in Guadeloupean architecture, this small perimeter is one of the most rewarding in the town.
The building has not withstood time or the tropical climate. Surveys report a real danger, with a risk of collapse in several rooms. The council, which acquired the property in 2013, has been working on a rescue plan ever since; backing from the Mission Patrimoine will finally allow it to go ahead.
A faithful restoration by 2029
The stated aim is a restoration true to the original structure. The council then hopes to open the building to the public, combining an exhibition space with local services. Work should begin in the first quarter of 2027, with completion hoped for by 2029.
The choice makes sense for Pointe-Noire, long known as Guadeloupe’s timber capital. The trade shaped the town’s economy and identity, something you can still see today at the Maison du Bois, the local house of wood, and in the work of its craftspeople. Restoring a wooden house in the town centre means preserving a piece of that history.
Three other overseas sites honoured
The Habitation Silène is not the only overseas building recognised this year. Three others appear in the selection: the church of Notre-Dame du Rosaire in Redoute, Fort-de-France (Martinique), the Maison Fifine in Sinnamary (French Guiana), and the Villa des Lierres in Saint-Joseph (Réunion). The scheme, launched in 2018 at the initiative of broadcaster Stéphane Bern and run by the Fondation du patrimoine alongside the Ministry of Culture, has already helped restore more than a thousand sites across France.
Worth discovering during your stay
If you are staying with us in Bouillante, Pointe-Noire is worth a morning’s outing: the town and its architecture, the Maison du Cacao, the beaches of Petite-Anse and Plage Caraïbe, and the nearby Route de la Traversée. While we wait for the Habitation Silène to be reborn, the Côte-sous-le-Vent already has plenty to tell.
Sources : Guadeloupe La 1ère and Fondation du patrimoine.
