The beach of Anse Couleuvre and the ruins of the Habitation

Welcome to the municipality of the Prêcheur, located in the north of the island. This isolated community has the characteristic of having a weak demography and living mainly from fishing. The seabed, located near this commune, are very rich and are also very well preserved by the local population.

Many buildings on this municipality are classified historical monuments and the mainly nautical activities (diving, fishing, surfing, snorkeling) will enchant you. The Habitation Céron and the most beautiful tree of 2016 (Zamana) also resides on the commune of the Prêcheur. Finally, you will have other activities available such as  the water falls of Couleuvre, hiking Prêcheur -Grand’Rivière, climbing the Mountain Pelee or even canyoning. This is a peaceful commune that will make you feel different and make you discover places that have retained all their charm of yesteryear such as the beaches of Anse Couleuvre or Anse Lévrier. It’s up to you to explore them.

Itinerary

To reach this beach, leaving from Fort-de-France (you must count with more than an hour drive), take the A1 towards the north of the island (Schoelcher, Case-Pilote). Pass several roundabouts and you are on the N2. Continue your way and pass the towns of Case-Pilote, Bellefontaine, Le Carbet and Saint-Pierre. You are on the D10 in direction of the commune of the Preacher. Pass the commune, you will see indications for Habitation Céron in particular. Follow the direction of the Anse Couleuvre, you will take a concrete road made of many bends and gullies. Take them thoroughly as they can be rough enough to pass by car. At the end of the road, you will arrive on a small parking lot that can be quickly filled. If this is the case, you are obliged to turn around and park on the roadside.

First tip : Leave early in the morning before 9.a.m if you want to be able to park, otherwise you will have to park on the roadside, if so you will have to turn around at the end of the road on the small parking and to park where you can find a place.  Park in the direction of departure in order not to be stuck.

From the parking lot, go towards the Couleuvre River to cross it. You have a 5 to 10 minute walk to reach the beach.

You will pass by a junction where you will have to take on the left, the path on the right leading to the departure of the trek Precheur-Grand’Rivière.

Road on the right (sign for the start of the Précheur-Grand’Rivière hike)

Plage de l’Anse Couleuvre

Continue your way. Here you are in front of the ruins of the Habitation Couleuvre.

A bit of history…..

Information panel on the history of the Habitation Couleuvre ( couleuvre is a variety of snake in France)

In the 19th century, this house diversified into various activities. It produced sugar until 1878, which declined in 1880 with the sugar crisis. She also owned cocoa and food crops on her estate.

In the early 1900s, the Habitation was sold to an industrialist, Ashton TARDON and an agronomist, Joesph WADDY. They took over the activities of the estate and started producing rum in 1916, much more profitable than sugar.

The Habitation is diversifying once again in the cultivation of lemon tree to make essential oil. Ashton TARDON installs a lemon distillery on the estate. At that time, 100 to 200 people worked on the estate.

From 1930, the years became difficult, economic crisis and the eruption of the Mountain Pelee  were right of the Habitation. Acres of burnt lemon trees and the flight of workers considerably reduce the activity of the field. Until 1940, the Habitation Couleuvre was mentioned sugar, cocoa and subsistence.

In 1944, Ashton TARDON died and then the nature took over the rights of the Habitation. The crops are abandoned and the distilleries in the vicinity close. Manon TARDON, his daughter, takes over the estate and dies recluse in this place that she loved so much, in 1989.

From 1984 to 2004, the area of the  ​​Habitation Couleuvre was gradually sold to the Conservatory of the Littoral (789 ha).

After the visit of the ruins of the habitation, continue the way along the right of the house. The way will bring you to the beach “Anse Couleuvre”.

Through the almond trees you can see the beach. Turquoise water, luxuriant vegetation and abrupt cliff will totally disorient you. The waters of this beach are waved a good part of the year and you will enjoy playing in the waves.

Information panel of the beach

The Anse Couleuvre beach is now yours. The beach has the particularity of being covered with black sand of volcanic origin, unlike the white sand that is due to the fragmentation of the coral reefs. All year round, the beach is easily accessible to lay your towel and  to find places in the shade under the almond trees or coconut palms. Given the road, this beach remains a small paradise where you will have the pleasure to take a nap and to bathe there. Do not forget  to provide protection for children but also sunscreen index 50, the sun can be harmful between 10 am and 2 pm.

Click on the link to have a first video preview of the beach on our Facebook page.

On the beach you see off, a rock, this is the Pearl. Around this rock, the seabed is of great biodiversity, fishermen, divers and tourists (excursion) take advantage of this rock that bears its name very well.

Do not forget your mask and snorkel

Snorkeling and diving can be done near the beach, at the cliffs on the right of the beach. These spots have an important marine biodiversity for everyone who is passionate of mask and snorkel in the Caribbean

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Dom Loisirs et Culture at your service !

OLIVIER Damien, your humble guide.

The Dom Loisirs et Culture Team is comitted to protecting the biodiversity of overseas departments.