Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The old warehouses, called houses of the Figuier, form a set of adjoining buildings built in the 18th century in Saint-Pierre, Martinique. Accelerated to the ramparts and connected by stairs, including Calle des Marches, these buildings were initially military dwellings. Their transformation into commercial spaces was in response to the city's growing economic development, requiring places to store and sell landed goods, particularly from Bertin Square. Their proximity to the battery of Enotz, which dominates them, suggests a strategic role in the port organisation.

The volcanic eruption severely damaged the facades and interior walls, leaving little trace of the two original levels. The adjoining walls, better preserved near the battery, reveal a structure suitable for a mixed use: domestic (ovens, basins, niches at the back) and commercial (supports of metal poles or wood at the front, for storage). Four stairs, one of which was well preserved, connected the different levels. The floors, partially intact, were covered with various slabs (cooked land, sandstone, slate, marble), showing a careful construction.

The ruins, protected since 1979 under the name Ruines du Figuier, are located in the Centre district, rue Bouillé. Their present state only permits partial reconstruction of their internal organisation, but their initial function — military housing and warehouse — is attested by the remains and archives. Their approximate location (accuracy: 5/10) and registration as Historic Monuments underline their heritage importance, despite the destruction suffered.

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