Destruction of the Friendship Factory 1847 (≈ 1847)
Cyclone ravaging the previous site.
1852-1854
Construction of Piton plant
Construction of Piton plant 1852-1854 (≈ 1853)
Edited by Gabriel Le Coat de Kerveguen.
vers 1894
Processing into starch
Processing into starch vers 1894 (≈ 1894)
Transition to cassava production.
18 juillet 2002
First partial protection
First partial protection 18 juillet 2002 (≈ 2002)
Inscription fireplace and land.
22 mars 2022
Total site registration
Total site registration 22 mars 2022 (≈ 2022)
Protection extended to all.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The Piton plant, in its entirety, comprising, the remains of the former plant, both in elevation and archeological, and the façades of the building linked to the plant and to the north thereof, located 29 Auguste-Brunet Street, on Parcel 536, shown in the cadastre section BW: inscription by order of 22 March 2022
Key figures
Gabriel Le Coat de Kerveguen - Manufacturer of the plant
Found the factory on the ruins.
Origin and history
The Piton Factory is a former sugar factory built between 1852 and 1854 by Gabriel Le Coat de Kerveguen on the ruins of the Friendship Factory, destroyed by a cyclone in 1847. Located in Saint Joseph on the island of Reunion, it stands on the left bank of the Remparts River, near the Babet Piton (formerly the Saladin Piton), 200 metres from the Indian Ocean. Its architecture and location reflect the economic importance of sugar cane in this region in the 19th century.
Around 1894, the factory ceased its sugar production to become a cassava starch factory, before being converted into a distillery during the interwar period. This change in activity illustrates the industrial adaptations of Réunion in the face of economic developments. The factory was partially protected as early as 2002 (roadway and land), then fully listed as historical monuments in 2022, including archaeological remains and facades of the adjacent building.
The site, owned by the commune of Saint-Joseph, today bears witness to the industrial heritage of Réunion. Its inscription covers all remaining structures, including underground elements and buildings attached to the north. Auguste Brunet Street, where it is located, recalls its anchoring in the city's urban and historical landscape. Available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum, Merimée base) confirm its key role in the economic history of the island.
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