Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit High Plains - Volcano

Take the Route Forestière du Volcan from Bourg-Murat and plunge into a whole new world. It's 24 km long and passes through superb, varied, lunar landscapes. On your way there or back, take the time to stop at Nez de Boeuf to admire the view of the Rivière des Remparts, then at the Commerson crater. You'll then cross the Plaine des Sables, before finishing at the Pas de Bellecombe, culminating at 2,311 m, to admire the magnificent panorama of the Fouqué enclosure and the volcano. It's also a meeting point for hikers.

Created in 2007, its 1,054 km² encompass 42% of the island. It was founded to ensure both human and ecological preservation of the heart of the island. The fauna and flora, the forest, the volcano, the cirques, the landscapes, the traditions and the roots of Reunion's identity are all assets to be protected. Visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists, the national park constitutes a real laboratory for sustainable development in order to respond to the realities of the territory.

The Domaine des Tourelles, a listed historic monument, is at the heart of the "Archipel des métiers d'art", a center for the promotion of craft trades. The craftsmen (sculpture, brewing, distilling, painting and foundry) work and show their workshops at the foot of the superb house. Built in 1927 by Alexis de Villeneuve, a major landowner in Saint-Benoît, the house was completely demolished and rebuilt identically in 1993. Visits to the house are free of charge. There's also a store selling local crafts.

At the edge of the grandiose panorama of the Rivière des Remparts a ravishing undergrowth, full of tamarinds, calumets and arums, stretches out on a gentle slope. The trail cuts through this colourful forest, rich in endemic Bourbon species, and climbs up to the hillsides that dominate the deep gorges of the river. The view is sublime. A belvedere allows you to discover the Mahavel scree and the enclosed islet of Roche-Plate, some 800 m below.

The Col de Bellevue is located at an altitude of 1,600 m, on the plains road at the boundary between the Plaine des Palmistes and the Plaine des Cafres. Stop off here to enjoy magnificent panoramic views of this part of the island. The Col de Bellevue offers a superb view of eastern Réunion, its peaks and coastline. A number of picnic tables await you, as do several starting points for hiking and horse-riding. During the austral summer, make sure you get there early to enjoy the view before the fog rolls in from below.