Property

Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Appavopoulle property, located in Saint-André on the island of La Réunion, is a former colonial plantation dating from the first half of the 19th century. It was dedicated to the cultivation of sugar cane, the exploitation of filaos wood and the production of vanilla, activities accompanied by industrial and agricultural technical facilities. This area reflects the island's agricultural economy during the colonial period, with infrastructure adapted to the needs of crop processing and storage.

Vanillary, an integral part of the property, underwent transformations in 1962 after the damage caused by cyclone Jenny. This building is divided into two spaces: a low part for vanilla preparation and a high part dedicated to drying and packaging. The stables, built of pebbly masonry, housed cobbled stalls equipped with cut-stone feeders, bearing witness to the farming practices of the time.

The mill, erected in 1941, was used to grind corn and cassava, and also housed an electric generator. This building, like the villa built in woodpan on a basalt base, illustrates the architectural and technical evolution of the estate in the 20th century. The property, including master house, outbuildings, stables, milling, vanilla, courtyard and garden, was added to the additional inventory of Historic Monuments on March 25, 1994, highlighting its heritage importance.

The Appavopoulle estate thus embodies an agricultural, industrial and architectural heritage, marked by successive adaptations to the climatic and economic constraints of La Réunion. Its inscription as a Historic Monument in 1994 preserved a tangible testimony to the island's colonial and post-colonial history, while highlighting local expertise in the construction and processing of agricultural products.

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