HOUELMONT POWDER KEG

At the heart of a natural site protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral and the commune of Gourbeyre, these military remains date back to the early ^19th century. They are surrounded by a cursed fig tree (a species of ficus). The site was rediscovered a few years ago by a historian in charge of heritage at the Guadeloupe Regional Council. It bears witness to the rich military history of South Basse-Terre between the late ^18th and early ^19th centuries. The powder magazine is surrounded by remarkable trees, a vaulted ceiling and an uncovered room with a watering and feeding system for animals.

A first phase of site rehabilitation was completed in January 2019. First of all, a complete clean-up of the site was carried out by young RSMA recruits in 2017 (work that Gourbeyre's technical services had to repeat after Hurricane Maria struck in September 2017). Next came the pruning of the cursed fig tree that had imprisoned the structure for years. The primary objective was to maintain the balance between this majestic tree and this powder keg, which seems to have appeared out of nowhere. A second phase of work is planned to optimize the discovery of this monument and the biodiversity of the Caribbean Mountains, and to offer visitors a new element of historical knowledge and relaxation. Eventually, this site of heritage interest in the Bisdary district will be combined with outdoor sports trails, such as a mountain bike track.