Saint-Louis: Canals and Sugar Production

Saint-Louis combines a long history of canals with insights into sugar production. The Canal des Aloès and the Canal du Gol represent different construction periods; at the Sucrerie du Gol, a seasonal tour takes visitors through the stages of sugar production. You can plan your stay around either the historical development of the canals or a tour during the sugar campaign.

Canals and Local History

The Canal des Aloès is more than 150 years old and the newest canal in the network around which Saint-Louis developed. Augustin Le Coat de Kerveguen had it built between the late 1830s and early 1840s. Its age and construction period give it a special place in the town’s history: it is the newest part of a network linked to the development of Saint-Louis.

The Canal du Gol represents an earlier construction period. Hyacinthe Murât built it between 1816 and 1817 on behalf of the brothers Antoine and Philippe Couve; the canal ran through Saint-Louis. Its history therefore reaches further back than that of the Canal des Aloès. The Canal du Gol was closed in 1985 after the Gol sugar factory was modernised and a new irrigation network was established. The two canals thus offer different historical reference points for understanding the development of water engineering and the sugar industry in Saint-Louis.

The former Bois de Nèfles Cocos corn mill is also part of the municipality’s cultural history. Its intended use differs from that of the historic canals: it is to serve as a cultural venue hosting exhibitions, concerts and various cultural activities. Those interested in the cultural side of Saint-Louis will find here a distinct aspect of local history alongside the canals and sugar production.

Sugar Production and Seasonal Experiences

During the sugar campaign, from August to December, the Sucrerie du Gol offers tours of the sugar-making process. The tour covers everything from receiving the sugar cane through milling, evaporation and crystallisation to the sugar crystals. It focuses not only on the finished product, but also on several stages of its production. If this is what interests you, you can make sugar production a specific focus of your trip.

La Kaze à Sucre offers products for tasting and sale; its offering may depend on the campaign. This is a different experience from the tour: the tour focuses on the production process, while La Kaze à Sucre is about tasting and buying products. If you plan to take the tour, schedule your trip within the stated period from August to December and check the specific tour dates in advance. If the tour is part of your plans, your preferred dates are a useful starting point when looking for a holiday rental.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Le Tampon, Cilaos, Saint Pierre, Etang-Salé les Hauts, Les Avirons, Petite-Île, Saint-Joseph, Matouta.

For the main travel overview: Saint Pierre.