Former Pierrefonds plant

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Pierrefonds factory, located on the island of La Réunion, in the commune of Saint-Pierre, is a former sugar factory built in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century. It is one of the three largest plants in the region, with those of the Casers and Grands-Bois. Founded before 1837 by a man named Lebidan, it initially operated with a steam machine and a hydraulic wheel powered by the Saint-Étienne Canal. The current buildings, dated 1871, housed mills, steam machines, evaporators and centrifuges for sugar production, as well as an adjacent distillery.

The factory ceased operations in 1969, after more than a century of sugar production. The site, well preserved, consists of two main masonry buildings: the T-shaped factory and the distillery organized around a square courtyard. Around are the stables, oxen parks, administrative buildings and camp of the hires. The set, soberly decorated, is centered on a sugar cane reception platform, close to a circular basin serving as a drinking pot. Classified as a historical monument in 1998 (including its plated land), the factory is now owned by the municipality. In 2022, it was selected by the Heritage Mission to benefit from the Heritage Lotto.

The Pierrefonds factory illustrates the industrial and agricultural history of Réunion, marked by the intensive cultivation of sugar cane from the 19th century. Its functional architecture and spatial organization reflect the production methods of the time, where the labour force (including hired, contract workers) played a central role. The decommissioning of the site in 1969 coincides with the gradual decline of the local sugar industry, while at the same time giving a major heritage testimony of this period.

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