The history of the Maison Rouge plantation in Saint-Louis

The Domaine de Maison Rouge is an old colonial plantation in the southwest of the Indian Ocean, located in the communal territory of Saint-Louis. The entire agricultural domain, including the master's house and its garden, has been classified as a historical monument since May 5, 2004. It has housed the Musée des arts décoratifs de l'océan Indien (MADOI) for several years.

The estate was built in the 18th century by the Desforges-Boucher family. The first concession dates back to 1725. In 1752, the plantation belonged to Jacques Desforges-Boucher, who owned 99 slaves, including 76 adults. At that time, the plantation produced coffee, maize, wheat, and rice, and maintained a herd of cattle, sheep, and pigs. Following the death of Jacques Desforges-Boucher in 1786, Richard Nairac managed the plantation for the heirs before purchasing the shares in 1827. In the 1830s, Anne Marie Lucie Murat consolidated the property as the island moved toward sugar production.

In 1849, Anne Marie Lucie Nairac, widow Murat, and her son Hyacinthe received compensation following the abolition of slavery. In 1867, due to non-payment of installments, the Murat family was expropriated at the request of the Crédit Foncier Colonial, and the estate was bought by Dominique Edevin Hoarau. By 1891, his son of the same name had purchased the property outright. The estate continued to be a working sugar mill, with various acquisitions expanding its landholdings throughout the late 19th century.

The property eventually passed to Fernand Albert Inard in 1897. In 1917, his daughter Fernande Adèle Inard and her husband Léonus Bénard owned two of the most beautiful properties in the south of the island. By the 1970s and 1980s, parts of the domain were transferred to the Department of Réunion and the commune of Saint-Louis for social housing and the preservation of the historical landscape. Finally, in 1987, the historical buildings were ceded to the commune of Saint-Louis to create a museum of decorative arts.

Since December 20, 2008, the former stable building has served as the home of the Musée des arts décoratifs de l'océan Indien. Visitors can explore the history of the plantation while viewing the decorative arts of the region.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons