The most beautiful religious buildings Saint-Denis

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.

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.

This Tamil temple dedicated to the goddess Mariammen cannot be visited (except for exceptional events), but it can be admired from the outside. It is the first to be built in Sainte-Marie. A few planks in the courtyard of the factory then allow Tamils to meditate. Although it has been moved several times, it is still standing and still active. Located in La Mare, it is one of the most beautiful of the island. It also honours Ganesh, the god with the elephant head, and Alvan, the fire keeper. The fire march takes place on January 3rd of each year.

The Noor-e-Islam mosque is the main mosque of the capital of Reunion Island, to be discovered during a stroll along the pedestrian and shopping street Maréchal Leclerc. This large mosque, inaugurated in 1905, is the first in France and overseas. It can accommodate up to 4,000 people. The facade is equipped with a minaret that rises to 32 m, it is easily spotted in the heart of the city. The call to prayer is pronounced three times a day in the streets of Saint-Denis.

Not far from the fruit and vegetable market, other rituals take place in a beautiful Tamil temple, colorful and decorated with multiple deities. In 1917, there was only a small temple named Kôvil, made of tin. It was rebuilt in concrete in 1956 and enlarged in the 1980s to form an architectural complex called Shri Kali Kambal Kôvil. The latest expansion work dates from 2012. To visit the temples, take off your shoes, get rid of your leather items and check other requests indicated on a sign at the entrance.