The Musée de la Pagerie is the birthplace, in 1763, of Marie-Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, who later became Empress Josephine de Beauharnais. Today, the building is a museum entirely dedicated to her life and legacy.
The guided tour takes you through the ruins of the estate, which was damaged by several cyclones. You’ll see her childhood bed, portraits, and letters said to have been sent to her by Napoleon. The visit also includes the reception area, a botanical garden, the ruins of the sugar mill, her birth house, the cane press, and the “manioquerie,” a space where cassava was traditionally processed.
It was in this house that she learned of her future marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte, whom she wed in 1796. Two mayors of Trois-Îlets sought to honor this iconic figure born in their town: in the 1930s, Mayor Gabriel Hayot created a first museum near the church where she was baptized. Then, in 1944, Mayor Robert Rose-Rosette acquired the property where the museum now stands.
To get there, head to the town of Trois-Îlets. Once in front of the Trois-Îlets golf course, follow the signs to the Musée de la Pagerie.
