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Saint-Michel Church
Religious building, Historic site and monument
in Le François
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The parish of Le François was founded at the prayer of the inhabitants of the district, on December 17th 1694 by Father Labat and by Monsieur De Mareuil, Lieutenant of the King in La Cabesterre, acting on behalf of the Governor of the Isles, Monsieur de Blénac.
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A chapel, made of earthen forks, palisaded with reeds and covered with straw was erected. It was later replaced by a wooden church that braved the years. Regularly repaired, it was seriously damaged by a hurricane in 1766.
As early as 1802, the number of inhabitants having increased, its reconstruction was considered but it was not carried out until 1814. The entire building was then rebuilt and enlarged. The first stone was laid in 1851. Monsignor Le Herpeur, first bishop of Martinique...A chapel, made of earthen forks, palisaded with reeds and covered with straw was erected. It was later replaced by a wooden church that braved the years. Regularly repaired, it was seriously damaged by a hurricane in 1766.
As early as 1802, the number of inhabitants having increased, its reconstruction was considered but it was not carried out until 1814. The entire building was then rebuilt and enlarged. The first stone was laid in 1851. Monsignor Le Herpeur, first bishop of Martinique blessed the completed building in 1855.
Damaged again in 1875 by a storm, the church which had just been refurbished was practically destroyed by the major hurricane of August 1891. Its reconstruction began in 1893 and the building was blessed in 1897.
Ravaged inside by a fire in 1973, the church was razed to the ground by the town and replaced by an avant-garde monument designed by the architect Marc Alie. It lasted ten years, was destroyed and a new church was built a little further on in 2005. It was inaugurated in 2011.
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