Former sugar factories · Saint-Leu
Stella Matutina
Housed in a former sugar factory in Saint-Leu, this museum traces the history of the island's industrial development, and in particular that of sugar, the driving force of Réunion's economy since the 19th century.
Accredited museum
Why it matters
A benchmark site for understanding how the sugar economy shaped the peopling, labour, landscapes and society of Réunion.
History
The Stella Matutina sugar factory was founded in 1889 at Piton Saint-Leu. It closed in 1978. The museum opened on its premises on 26 July 1991, with more than 1,500 heritage objects recorded in Muséofile and a large part of the machinery preserved in situ. Restoration work was carried out between 2010 and 2015.
Architecture
19th-century industrial buildings converted into a museum space
Sources (2)
- https://pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/M1068
- https://museesreunion.fr/musee-stella-matutina/
