The most beautiful parks and gardens West

Boasting exceptional views of the sea, lagoon and Saint-Leu, the de Châteauvieux family's former estate and its^19th-century outbuildings are quite simply magnificent. In 1857, the estate covered 660 hectares from the sea to the mountains. Its agricultural activity was based on sugar cane and geranium, as well as food crops, tea, cotton... Beer, cider and oil were also produced. Today, the park covers 13 hectares, 8 of which are open to visitors. Its primary vocation is to raise awareness of the island's cultural heritage, particularly its indigenous and endemic plant life. There are three botanical collections to discover: the Bas de l'Ouest forest, "lontan" plants, a Creole orchard, succulents, palms, orchids and ferns, world coffee trees, a cathedral bamboo gully and a collection composed exclusively of Bourbon roses. The guided tour lasts 45 minutes, but to explore the entire garden, you'll need a good two hours (beware, it's a bit of a climb!). We enjoy discovering the richness and diversity of the botanical collections as much as admiring the architecture of the former agricultural estate, both inside and out, while strolling through a well-organized, clean and well-maintained estate with magnificent views. We highly recommend it! There's also a souvenir store and a restaurant, Le Vieux Pressoir, offering decent Creole and metro cuisine.

This tropical ethno-botanical garden of 2.5 ha reconciles beauty, diversity and pedagogy. It was directed by Philippe Kaufmant, a passionate botanical engineer from Lorraine, who died in 1992, one year after the realization of his lifelong dream: an extraordinary garden. In addition to the 700 varieties of plant species (including plants endemic to Reunion Island), you may be lucky enough to observe cardinals, chameleons, black water hens with red beaks, serins and butterflies. There are also workshops and one-off events to be discovered on the website.

Paulo and his team of volunteers have created an experimental, medicinal, food and spice garden to promote a neglected botanical heritage. During your visit, you'll wander through the arboretum, where the scent of citrus trees wafts through the air, the educational apiary and the corner reserved for herbal teas and spices. Many endemic species have been replanted, and Paulo will be delighted to explain their uses to you. You can also find them selling garden produce every Saturday at the Éperon organic market.

A botanical tour and private nursery with a concentration of nearly 700 species, including Madagascar baobabs, desert roses and pachypodiums. Visits follow a guided tour with supporting documentation and signposting to discover the natural environment and the adaptation of the species. This private collection is breathtaking, and highly recommended for enthusiasts! As for the nursery, it offers seeds from plants encountered along the way and much more besides.

A belvedere overlooking the Pointe au Sel is now a reality along Rue du Musée, in the Quatre Robinets district. Inaugurated in 2014, this relaxation area was built on a former dump and now offers several sheltered kiosks with barbecues. It thus offers residents and tourists a rest and picnic area open to all. The place is ideal for enjoying the magnificent sunset.