Sentier de Beautiran
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Sentier de Beautiran
Petit-Canal

Sentier de Beautiran

Agricultural landscape
Cultural and architectural heritage
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A walk among fields of sugar cane and mangrove, on the traces of the region's past.

The site of Beautiran was the shipment port of the sugar and rum produced by the Beauport factory, as well as the landing place for the coal necessary for the steam engines.


11 points of interest

  • Flora

    Trumpet Tree

    The pink trumpet tree (Tabebuya heterophylla) is identifiable by its beautiful pink flowers with a yellow heart, which lie scattered over the ground. It is very resistant to the wind. Its wood is valued for carpentry, and is used for building. It is also often used in the composition of 'saintoise' canoes.
  • Cultural and architectural heritage

    Moulin de Sainte-Amélie

    Remains of the mill at Sainte-Amélie; the tower is encircled by a fig tree. Windmills were used to crush the stems of the sugarcanes to extract the juice (vésou), used to manufacture of sugar and then rhum agricole (cane juice rum).
  • Pond

    Mare de Castex

    A damp area in the middle of the cane fields, the Mare is an attractive place for water birds (herons, water hens, etc.) who come there to feed.
  • Agricultural landscape

    Sugar cane fields

    Sugar cane has marked the history and landscape of Guadeloupe since the fifteenth century, the period where it would have begun to be planted in the Caribbean. Cane is a grass, whose stem is used in the manufacture of sugar and rum; the foliage serves as cattle feed.
  • Flora

    Castor Oil Tree

    The castor oil tree (Carapatier) is a pioneer plant, which means it is one which colonises open spaces. Carapate oil is manufactured from the seeds of the shrub. It has a cosmetic use, being recommended for the care of the hair.
  • Flora

    Fiddlewood tree

    Characteristic of the dry rainforest in Guadeloupe, the fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum) can reach 15 metres in height. It is recognisable by its orange leaf-stems and its clusters of small round fruit, ranging from orange to black. Its flowers are white, perfumed and nectar-laden. Its twigs are square in section, giving the tree its common name.
  • Flora

    Dragonsblood tree

    The Dragonsblood (Pterocarpus officinalis) is a characteristic tree of the swampy forest, located behind the mangroves. It often has often imposing buttress roots, and its bark produces a red resin.
  • Flora

    Mangrove

    On either side of the trail you will see the mangrove. Between the sea and the swampy forest, this vegetation consists of red, black, white and grey mangrove trees. The attached PDF describes the features which allow you to distinguish between these species.
  • History

    Industrial ruins

    All along the trail, ruins of the industrial past of the site of Beautiran are still visible: rails, wagons, ancient storage buildings, etc.
    It was the Clugny sugar farm which, in the late nineteenth century, invested in building a railway to connect it to the landing at Beautiran. In that way, its production could be routed to the port, and then shipped to Pointe-à-Pitre.
  • Viewpoint

    Sea view

    Coming out of the mangroves, there is a beautiful viewpoint over the bay of Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin as well as the contours of Sainte-Rose, in the distance.
  • History

    Old Port of Beautiran

    In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Beautiran was the landing stage used by the neighbouring sugar farms (Beauport). There could be seen the wagons and dug-out canoes used to transport the sugar and rum to Pointe-à-Pitre. The Beautiran site was therefore a centre of activities for the trading fleets and their slaves. It was finally closed in the1960s.
    Its equipment can still be seen, including the loading gantry (1865).

Description

Hiking trail colour : yellow.
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  • Departure : coming out of the village of Petit-Canal, after the new stadium, take the small path leading westwards.
  • Towns crossed : Petit-Canal

Altimetric profile


Recommandations

As Guadeloupe is prone to natural risks, extra care should be taken in this natural environment. For the benefit of all hikers, responsible behaviour is very important.
Please note: the parking is not supervised.

Information desks


Access and parking

Starting point : Lat : 16,38525 N - Long : 61,48295 W.
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Coming out of the village of Petit-Canal and heading for Port-Louis, go past the new stadium then turn left on the first non-metalled track. Parking at the start of the track, near the hike information panel.

Parking :

coming out of the village of Petit-Canal, after the new stadium, at the beginning of the little path.

More information


Source


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