Market

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The covered market of the Trois-Îlets, located in Martinique, was authorized by the governor on 7 February 1928. Its construction met a local need for a protected commercial space in a region with limited water resources and low rainfall. The municipality placed an order from the house Léon DUBOIS de Nantes for a complete metal frame, including farms, poles, frame and wrought iron grids. The materials, delivered to Fort-de-France, were mounted by the municipal government without major changes since then, with the exception of the roof that was rebuilt after Cyclone Dean in 2006.

The building is distinguished by its reinforced concrete structure, its four-paned roof in tiled sheet metal, and its openworked facades with wrought iron grilles decorated with decorative motifs. A tank, now decommissioned, bears witness to its historic role in providing water to the inhabitants. The market, although not valued in spite of its heritage importance, served as a forum for political exchanges during the election campaigns, where opponents were verbally confronted from its stairs.

Ranked a Historical Monument in 2019, the market illustrates the architectural adaptation to the climatic and social constraints of Martinique of the early twentieth century. Its preserved authenticity, despite the damage of cyclone Dean, makes it a rare example of colonial public infrastructure still in use. The adjacent tank, transformed into an artist's workshop, adds a contemporary cultural dimension to this utilitarian heritage.

External links