Beldame Building

Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Beldame building is an emblematic building of Saint Peter, on the island of La Réunion, built in the 20th century but maintaining a facade of the early 19th century. Its sober architecture, marked by a molded cornice and a headband highlighting the first floor, fits into the classic neo-pondycherian current, imported from Pondicherry. This style, exported to the former Bourbon Island, reflects the cultural and architectural exchanges between the French counters of the Indian Ocean and the Mascareignes.

The building, located at 10 Méziaire-Guignard Street in the city centre, was probably used for trading activities. Despite transformations at the beginning of the 20th century, it preserves remarkable ancient elements: wooden ceilings, parquet floors, impostes to Persians, doorchambranles, as well as a two-coloured marble floor adorning the large entrance corridor. These details bear witness to artisanal know-how and a mixed architectural heritage, characteristic of Réunion.

Ranked a historic monument since December 17, 2015, the Beldame building also benefits from the "Twentieth Century Heritage" label. Its protection includes the entire building, its plate ground, its outbuildings, and even a basin with a statue, bounded by a plan annexed to the order of inscription. This status underscores its heritage importance in the urban landscape of Saint-Pierre, a city marked by a rich colonial and commercial history.

The location of the building, specified by the Merimée base and GPS coordinates, confirms its anchoring in the historical fabric of Saint-Pierre (code Insee 97416). Although its geographical accuracy is considered "passable" (level 5/10), its exact address and visibility in tools such as Street View make it an accessible landmark for visitors and researchers interested in the heritage of Réunion.

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