JEP2026

The Old Caféière Beauséjour opens its doors

On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, on the occasion of the 43rd edition of the European Heritage Days, the association LA CAFÉIÈRE BEAUSÉJOUR is exceptionally opening the heart of the estate to the public: the former Beauséjour Coffee House, in Pointe-Noire.

Two themes are featured this year : "Photographic Heritage" and "Heritage in Peril: Reviving, Resisting, Reimagining." The exhibition addresses these themes in two ways:

• by a wooden house, part of Guadeloupe's coffee-growing heritage,

• and by the photographic exhibition of Maria Nunes dedicated to the mas à po.

Accompanied by a guide, you will explore the history of the dwelling — documented since 1763 under the name "Habitation des Sources", then designated as "café plantation" in a notarial act of 1780 — discover its wooden architecture and follow the thread of the different renovation campaigns that have given it its present appearance.

Visits are conducted in small groups — a maximum of 16 people — and only by reservation, via the online ticket office.

The program:

A guided tour of approximately one hour, dedicated to:

• the history of the dwelling and the coffee plantation;

• the architecture of the buildings;

• the various renovations carried out on the site.

Then, with free access after the visit, the Maria Nunes — Mas à po exhibition, included in the ticket.

The exhibition:

Photographer, director, and producer Maria Nunes, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, has been documenting the living heritage of the Caribbean for over fifteen years: traditional carnivals, steelbands, and popular festivals. She was honored in 2021 as a recipient of the Anthony N. Sabga Award for Caribbean Excellence in Arts and Letters.

She came to Guadeloupe with a specific goal: to photograph the mas à po . These skin-clad groups—Voukoum, Akiyo, Mas ka Klé, and others—take their name from the goatskin drums that accompany them. They don't parade; they burst onto the scene, often at night. The images presented, taken during the 2026 carnival, are all dedicated to this tradition.

Date & Time:

• Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026

• Departures at 9:30am · 10:30am · 11:30am · 2:30pm · 3:30pm · 4:30pm

Reservation :

The visit is accessible only by prior reservation. No visit will be possible without presentation of the free ticket at the entrance .

Things to know before booking:

• The site is not accessible to people with reduced mobility: the route includes changes in elevation and natural terrain.

• A dog lives on the property. It will not be tied up, as it is at home .

• Parking is not possible on the property. You can park in the "Les Jardins d'Acomat" housing estate, 50 meters away, taking care not to disturb the neighbors.