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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The chimney called La Mare is an iconic industrial vestige located in Sainte-Marie, on the island of La Réunion. It belonged to the old factory of La Mare, a site dedicated to the processing of sugar cane, a major economic activity of the island since the 19th century. This chimney, now isolated, bears witness to the region's industrial past, marked by sugar production and its impact on local development.

Classified as an additional inventory of Historic Monuments since May 2, 2002, the chimney is fully protected, including its plated area. This ranking reflects its heritage importance, both for its architecture and for its role in Réunion's economic history. The structure, owned by a private company, recalls the era of the large sugar factories that shaped the landscape and society of Réunion.

The historical context of La Réunion in the 19th and 20th centuries was dominated by the cultivation of sugar cane, introduced in the 17th century. The factories, like La Mare, were central economic centres, employing a large labour force and structuring social life around the sugar industry. These industrial sites, often located near cane fields, symbolized the transition to a plantation economy, with its social and environmental stakes.

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