The Habitation Depaz is a distillerylocated in the municipality of Saint-Pierre.

Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5pm , Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.

Visits and tastings are free.

To access the Habitation Deparz , from Fort-de-France (more than one hour drive), take the A1 towards the north of the island (Schoelcher, Case-Pilote). Go through several roundabouts and here you are on the N2. Continue your road and pass the towns of Case-Pilote, Bellefontaine, Le Carbet. Keep going to the town of Saint-Pierre and pass the village. Turn right on the N2 towards Morne Rouge, you will see after five minutes driving, a sign on your left telling you to turn left to reach the distillery. Pass the bridge, the distillery will be on your right a little  further.

Itinerary

Take the driveway that brings you to the shop. You will enjoy a magnificent view of Mountain Pelee  if the weather allows  it.

Habitation Depaz

In front of the shop, go through the door on the left to start the visit. You will have to follow the red trail. When you enter the shop, you will see on your left a giant map  on the wall of the tour of the visit

You will see at the beginning of the visit or even when you arrive that on there is a restaurant on the Domain. Here is the link.

Continue your way following the red path. You will see information boards explaining the different processes of rum production DEPAZ.

Continue your way to see the estate’s castle. It can be visited from Tuesday to Saturday.  Check the opening hours if you wish to visit the castle. (see below)

You will see all along the visit beautiful old trees. Take the opportunity to contemplate them, they are exceptional trees on this area.

Here you are in front of the Château DEPAZ, built in 1920, and paying tribute to the family of Victor DEPAZ who died during the eruption of the volcano in 1902.

A bit of history…….

In the 19th century, many rum distilleries were mainly sugar houses. They distilled their rum from molasses resulting from the manufacture of sugar. The development of the invention of the steam engine and its adoption in sugar houses will intensify and concentrate sugar production in large factories. The isolated dwellings will then concentrate exclusively on the production of agricultural rum, improved by the adoption of the European imported tray column replacing the still. After 1960, the closure of most sugar houses put an end to the production of industrial rum. The agricultural rum takes place with its flavors and terroir, making it a rum that is recognized worldwide.

It is at the feet of the volcano, in 1651, that Jacques DUPARQUET creates one of the first Habitations of the island. It is called at the time “the Habitation The Mountain”. This area produces at the time indigo and tobacco then moves towards growing cane and sugar production.

In the 19th century, the Habitation was bought by the Pécoul family. It is from this purchase that the estate begins to distil rum.

The activity prospered until 1902, year of the eruption of  the “Mount Pelee”. The city of Saint-Pierre and the Habitation have been completely razed.

Seven years later, in the middle of the ruins, Victor DEPAZ took over the estate and rebuilt the distillery. The habitation is since named the Habitation DEPAZ.

On May 8, 1917, the distillery produced rum again. In 1920, the Château DEPAZ is built, it is the exact replica of the old Habitation Périnelle, in homage to this house and to all his family who succumbed during the eruption while he was at school in France.

Let’s continue the visit with the discovery of the water mill, the hydraulic energy was used at the time for the operation of the distillery.

You arrive in front of the hangar where you will be able to contemplate the different processes and inform you thanks to the numerous information panels.

You will also see the replica of the bell that was destroyed during the eruption.

On the estate, there is also a snack shop, and small huts where you will have pieces of time that served on the Habitation. You will be able to see in particular a small film presenting you the know-how of the rum.

To finalize the visit take the direction to the shop of the domain. You can enjoy a range of products from white rum to old rum. Feel free to browse their website (currently under construction) to learn about the different rums designed by Habitation DEPAZ.

Do not hesitate to post you commentaries or to ask for information on contact@domloisirsetculture.fr.

Subscribe on our page on Facebook, where you will discover a new article or video every week.

Dom Loisirs et Culture at your service.

OLIVIER Damien, your humble guide

The Dom Loisirs and Culture team is committed to raising awareness of the protection of the biodiversity of the overseas departments.