Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Orléans Palace, also known as the Governor's Palace, was built between 1932 and 1935 under the direction of architect Ali-Georges Tur, representative of the Colonial Ministry. This project was part of a comprehensive plan to rebuild and modernize Basse-Terre after the damage caused by Hurricane Okeechobee in September 1928. It also aimed to celebrate the three-hundredth anniversary of the French presence in Guadeloupe. The building, designed in reinforced concrete, adopts a classic U-shaped plan with galleries protecting facades and reception spaces on the ground floor.

The palace was occupied since 1935, although the works were not officially received, in order to welcome the festivities of the tricentennial. After the départementization of Guadeloupe in 1946, the building was transformed into a prefecture in 1951, requiring internal modifications and successive extensions. Architects Gérard-Michel Corbin, Jack Berthelot, and later Blandin and Ramzay, contributed to these adaptations to meet growing administrative needs.

Partially classified as historical monuments in 1997, the Palais d'Orléans embodies late colonial architecture and the transition from a governor-run administration to a prefect. Its park and terraces, designed by Ali Tur, reflect a desire for prestige and functionality. The initial cost of the work, estimated at 2 800 550 francs in 1933, illustrates the importance attached to this project for Guadeloupe.

The building underwent several modifications, including the addition of an extended south wing and an elevation of the north wing in 1947, as well as extensions in 1975 and 1996. These transformations have adapted the palace to its prefecture role, while preserving original elements such as the main body and classified exterior spaces. Today, there remains a symbol of the administrative and architectural history of Guadeloupe.

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