The plateau Robert

Near the airport, the Thibault and Marécage roads that climb up the side of the plateau enclose the Grande-Ravine, separation between Grand-Bourg and Capesterre. The intense erosion of the limestone over time formed basins, these dolines with its shady sides have given home at one time or another to cacao, coffee and vanilla. Layered with argil most dolines house a pond. You'll be able to notice in many of them the freshwater turtle Molokoy as well as an abundant vegetation and animal life.

 

The Bézard windmill : alternative itinerary

The route D202 crosses the imposing central valley in Balisiers and permits access to the windmill by going through the hamlet of Etang-Noir. But to completely be taken out of modern world , take the small local road found further east in the direction of Nesmond estate and take full advantage of the quality of an area untouched by time. Only the windmill's tower had to be lifted to install a metal axe.

The Bézard windmill, on the other side of the valley, also had to accept mechanical modernization not originally incorporated into its design.

 

The Dorot region

 
Exit route D201 that runs along side of the Barre de l'Ile and take the Fréchy descent. Imagine 50 years ago, wagons equipped with a winding gear as breaks, fully loaded with sugar cane for delivery to the sugar refinery. Then on to the Dorot distillery.

This refinery got the sugar cane from the plateau by a wooden shoot and used the water pumped from the large pond, the Etang Bambou.

When heading downward, you join the route D205 which crosses the ford of Vagout, called Pont Rouneau, leading through the savannahs, often flooded by Vieux-Fort river.

On the Agapy road in the heart of the Island, the least populated region, you'll truly feel like you're in another world. Further along, you'll throw your worries into the Gueule Grand Gouffre, a very deep doline where the habitual pond is replaced by the sea.

 

suite of the tour