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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The former presbytery of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, located between the Place de la Victoire and the Church Square at Pointe-à-Pitre, is a rare example of wooden architecture from the 2nd quarter of the 19th century. Built after the 1843 earthquake that destroyed the city, it replaced a first presbytery dating back to 1806, built on land offered in 1788 by a local merchant. The building, with a square plan with a floor and a living level, is distinguished by its brick-coated wooden facades and its classic pediment peristyle, restored after decades of abandonment.

Ranked a historic monument in 1992, the presbytery was abandoned in the 1980s and damaged by Hurricane Hugo. Its restoration (1998–2006) made it original, with a slate roof, skylights, and a metal gallery added at the end of the 19th century. The ground floor temporarily served as a church after the earthquakes of 1843 and 1897. Today called the Pavilion of the City, it houses a interpretive centre dedicated to the Guadeloupe architectural heritage.

The building illustrates the natural post-disaster adaptation, with local materials (wood, bricks) and European classical influences. Its interior, decorated with painted woodwork and terracotta tiles, reflects the care given to the religious buildings of the era. The plot, closed by a bahut wall and an iron gate, consists of two monumental entrances: one on Place Gourbeyre (semi-circular stone staircase), the other side of the Victoire square, marked by pillars surmounted by decorative vases.

The presbytery is inseparable from the urban history of Pointe-à-Pitre, a sub-prefecture of Guadeloupe. Its central location, between courthouse and church, makes it a witness to the social and religious transformations of the 19th century. The successive restoration campaigns (notably in 1853 and after 1897) underline its importance for the community, despite the climatic hazards and the fires that struck the city.

In 2007, the renovation was rewarded with a Heritage Ribbon, highlighting the heritage value of the building. Its transformation into a cultural space perpetuates its role as a place of memory, while adapting to contemporary needs. The land, originally intended for gardens and outbuildings (kitchens, water reserves), is now a green setting in the heart of the historic centre.

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