Botanical Gardens at Anse Latouche

The Botanical Gardens at Anse Latouche, just north of Le Carbet, are set among the ruined stone walls of a 17th-century sugar plantation. The collection focuses on tropical and Caribbean species — ornamental gingers, heliconias, bromeliads, tree ferns, and the enormous Victoria amazonica lily pads in the ponds — displayed against a backdrop of jungle-covered hillside.

The plantation ruins themselves are the most atmospheric part of the visit: crumbling stone aqueducts, old mill foundations, and the remains of the great house are scattered through the gardens in various states of reclamation by the surrounding vegetation. The site takes about 90 minutes to explore properly. Entry is charged and the gardens are open daily.

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A story
The plantation that occupied this site was established in the 1640s and was one of the first sugar operations on Martinique. It was also the site of Martinique's first attempt at botanical acclimatisation — an 18th-century effort to transplant useful plants from other French colonies. The breadfruit tree, introduced to the Caribbean from the Pacific specifically to feed enslaved workers cheaply, was first established on Martinique at a garden near here before spreading throughout the region.

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