Things to see and do Saint-Denis

This museum owes its existence to two Reunionese, Georges Athenas and Alexandre Merlot, who decided in 1912 to collect works and open a museum in their home town in honour of Léon Dierx, the famous local poet who died that year. In this superb Creole hut you can see a few sketches by Gauguin, a Chagall, a self-portrait by Vollard, paintings by Vuillard, Rouault, Caillebotte, Bourdelle, Carrière, Guillaumin... The curator regularly proposes temporary exhibitions. We never tire of them.

The Avenue de la Victoire and the Rue de Paris are worth discovering on foot and walking along the baros (Creole gate) of its superb Creole houses. The Tourist Office has moreover chosen to live within the walls of the sublime Maison Carrère, a completely renovated hut that can be visited. The Chapel of the Immaculate, the old town hall, the State garden, the Natural History Museum... So many monuments that you can discover with a guide or on your own thanks to the signage that the town hall has put up at the gate of each building.

A spectacular and refreshing stopover in the East. The waterfalls of the Windward Coast are much more watery than those of the West, and while Niagara obviously looks pale beside its American namesake, it still dominates the St. Suzanne River and its ruffled banks some 50 metres high, imposing its thunderous roar on them, especially in summer during the rainy season. Don't be surprised to see Reunion Islanders rushing there after a heavy rainstorm to admire the spectacle. Watch out for the weekend rush.

The three-century-old Domaine du Grand-Hazier opens the doors to its two-hectare garden and the beautiful Creole house that sits on the throne. It is representative of the great sugar estates of the end of the 18th century on the East coast. But the main attraction of the estate is indeed its vanilla, which has been awarded the gold medal several times at the Paris Agricultural Show. A guided tour will allow you to know everything about vanilla: from the discovery of its fertilization in the 19th century, to the production of today's excellent frosted vanilla.

This district, wedged between two ramparts, combines residences, industry and historical relics. It's well worth a detour, if only to admire the bichique fishermen's canals, or to stroll along the banks at the river mouth. Along the rue de la Boulangerie, you'll find ^19th-century shops, including the freestone house at the corner of rue du Pont, dated 1835. Portions of the mill canal are still visible at the foot of the Tikatsou staircase. Adjust your gaze and you won't be disappointed.

Called Pic Adam or Piton Bois de Nèfles, this hike offers a beautiful view of the coast. Named after Captain Pierre Adam, who installed there and in Mauritius, in 1881, oil-powered optical signal devices, this peak is accessible by the Bois-de-Nèfles road. The point of view can be earned after a 1 to 2 hour walk of about 4 km. We recommend this hike from May to July, during the guava season! It is, moreover, accessible with the family.

Réunion is one of the best preserved islands in the world. The ONF maintains 987 km of trails in the 100,311 ha of public forests, i.e. 40% of the island's surface area. Its main missions are to welcome, protect, produce and employ. To find out about the state of the trails, consult the " Info Sentiers " section at the bottom of the home page of the ONF Réunion website. The site also contains a wealth of information on the island's natural heritage.

The former royal garden, which extends over 4 ha, was originally created between 1767 and 1773 with the aim of acclimatising exotic food and ornamental plants. Elegant, its layout was redesigned for the 1972 floral displays, but it still houses a number of rare botanical species. You won't miss its beautiful avenue of palm trees. Renovated in 2009, this site classified as a Historic Monument, ideal for an educational visit or simply for a coffee on the terrace, offers beautiful water games for children. An unmissable stopover!

After several years of closure, the Château Morange cultural center has reopened its doors. With a strong focus on the visual arts, it offers a program of cinema, photography and video art. And it doesn't stop there, as you can enjoy concerts by artists on the patio or in the auditorium. The château, built in 1853 by Jean-Baptiste Prosper Morange, has undergone a complete restoration. The space is now the venue for numerous cultural events. See our Facebook page for the latest program.

This timeless Creole estate, listed as a historical monument in 2018, welcomes you in a green and warm setting. It is a haven of peace that will fascinate lovers of history and botany. The mistress of the house offers you a guided tour from 10am to enjoy a perfect light, followed by a snack. If you wish to enjoy a picnic in the 3 ha forest, call her beforehand. She will concoct a gourmet basket for you to enjoy. She will also be able to reveal her secret corners.

In the most prestigious street of the chief town, the friendly team of the Office intercommunal du Nord welcomes you to the Maison Carrère and offers you activities, exhibitions, points of interest, news and good maps of the towns of Saint-Denis, Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Suzanne. Pass the counter to visit this superb Creole villa and stop by their shop. Be on the lookout for their favourites presented in this new edition of Le Petit Futé.

Mmm... a name like that is more dreamy than "Beef Pond"! This not very high waterfall is indeed deliciously shaded and flows into a welcoming basin. It is earned at the price of an easy walk through a bamboo forest, to the rhythm of birdsong. Those who love thrills and jumps might want to follow the course of the waterfall. Be careful though. We advise you during the week to avoid the rush of Sunday picnics. Exit at Quartier-Français then follow Bras-des-Chevrettes.

Lively and animated, the rue du Maréchal Leclerc sets the tempo of Saint-Denis. Popular and commercial, it is the most exotic, the most representative of the diversity of the island's cultures. All types of shops are represented here: from fabric, electronics and furniture shops run by the Zarabes to Chinese shops full of art objects, wooden statuettes and jade, not forgetting shoe and clothing shops with Western brands. In this street that crosses Saint-Denis from east to west, everyone prays to their god.

Every May ^1st, crowds from all over the island gather in front of a small miraculous cave where, according to legend, Mario, a runaway slave, hid during the time of the Marooning. A bougainvillea bush is said to have grown at the entrance of the cave, blocking its access and sparing the fugitive from the rapacity of the chestnut hunters. If you ask passers-by about this legend, each one tells his own story. Protector of the oppressed, the Black Virgin, whose statue watches over this unusual cave, is highly respected on the island.

Very popular, the Bassin Boeuf is often the Sunday outing because it is easy to access and pretty. From the car park, follow the path, cross the river using the pebbles. From there you will have the choice to go down on the left towards the bassin Nicole and its waterfall (a little rock and roll path) or to take on the right to go up towards the bassin Boeuf, more favourable for swimming. The access walk to the latter, only 15 minutes, is easy although a bit muddy. The basin is fed by a pretty waterfall, and a rope allows you to play Tarzan.

The only island lighthouse dates back to the time of the end of slavery in the middle of the 19th century, and is taken over by the Tourist Office. With a spiral staircase of 73 steps, it overlooks the Indian Ocean majestically. The top of the lighthouse is visited recently and a museum of the sea is planned.

Built in the neoclassical style, the church was delivered in 1832 and became a cathedral in 1850. The second phase of work, which took place between 1856 and 1863, allowed the apse to be enlarged and a porch to be added. The coffered ceiling with gilded ribs and Renaissance-style pendentives was added in 1869. From 2018 to 2019, the three marouflaged canvases of the choir, painted by Father Moirod at the end of the 19th century, were completely restored. The cathedral has been classified as a historic monument since 1975.

Situated in a superb mid-19th century Creole house, renovated and modified between 1987 and 1991, the mission of this art library is to promote contemporary art in Reunion Island by encouraging local and regional artists. You have to go there, if only for the place, which regularly hosts temporary exhibitions (vernissages are often great festive moments, with music, stories, etc.). The specialised library has 2,000 items, which it lends to art lovers for a minimum of €15 per year.

Located in the State Garden, this museum occupies the premises of the former Legislative Palace, a historic monument in colonial style built in 1834. Focused on biodiversity, it exhibits the flora and fauna of the islands of the southwestern Indian Ocean, including a beautiful collection of naturalized Malagasy lemurs on the first floor. The main attraction of the museum is undoubtedly the coelacanth, a fish from the Mozambique Channel. A good refreshment would do it good.

This covered market located at the western end of the rue du Maréchal-Leclerc is an exotic stopover. The building, dating from 1866, is the first civil work in cast iron. You will find there articles of Malagasy craft industry, of which beautiful tablecloths, chairs, baskets, games of solitaire... Ideal to bring back small gifts for all the family. You can eat in the two restaurants of the market where you will taste curries of all kinds. The walls at the back regularly host photography and art exhibitions.