Lorrain

Le Lorrain or Grande Anse, from its former name, is a town in the northeast of the island of flowers. The town is about 45 minutes drive from Saint-Pierre on the Atlantic side of Martinique. The nearest towns are Marigot, Morne-Rouge and Sainte-Marie, all within 10 km.

The Arawaks, who settled in the region in 1100, are the oldest people of Lorrain. They come from the north of South America and the Caribbean islands.

Lorrain was colonized by the French in 1635 under the leadership of Pierre Belain d’Esnambuc. They then exploited the soils of Martinique for the cultivation of sugar cane and tobacco. The region then experienced significant economic and demographic growth between 1715 and 1753.

The official creation of the city of Lorrain goes back to 1840. Three years earlier, in 1837, Lorrain was made up of two distinct communes, Grande-Anse and Marigot. The latter was re-established in 1889. Today, Le Lorrain is a pleasant town, with a lush nature and about 27 different districts. Its population is aging and the unemployment rate among young people are very critical.

As far as economic activity is concerned, it was only in 1660 that the city saw the creation of the first sugar refineries and distilleries. On the other hand, the sugar crisis (1882-1886) hit the region hard, leading to the cessation of activity.