The most beautiful churches cathedrals basilicas and chapels Réunion

During the terrible volcanic eruption of 1977, when dozens of houses in the village of Sainte-Rose were destroyed by lava, this church was miraculously spared. The lava flow surrounded the church, but never penetrated inside. Built in 1927, L'Enfant-Jésus-de-Prague church was renamed Notre-Dame-des-Laves. In front of it, a statue, La Métisse, created by local artists, symbolizes the suffering endured by the inhabitants at the time.

So named because of its location at the foot of the Piton des Neiges, the church is built in the Art Deco style of the 1930s. Its half-moon façade makes it original. The nave and choir were made by cabinetmakers from the Rivière-Saint-Louis region. Before entering, on the left, the tomb of Father Boiteau, a builder much appreciated by the villagers. When his death was announced, the faithful built the tomb in a single night. For some, it has miraculous virtues. Since the year 2000, the church has been listed in the inventory of historical monuments.

Built in 1857, the church of Sainte-Anne, with its original colours, is unique. Baroque in style, it is decorated with mouldings (some carved with a knife) and cement gargoyles. Inside, the Sainte-Thérèse chapel and its angelic sky blue vault is worth a stop. It has been classified as a historical monument since 1982. The scene of the wedding with Catherine Deneuve and Jean-Paul Belmondo in La Sirène du Mississipi, a film by François Truffaut, was even filmed in this church. The tourist office next door offers guided tours.

The parish church of Saint-Pierre, built at the time of the Compagnie des Indes, is one of the oldest buildings on the island, and was completed in 1765 with the addition of two side naves, two turrets and a peristyle. It was completed in 1765 and two side naves, two turrets and a peristyle were added. The façade has four Doric-inspired columns that support a pediment in the centre of which are the keys of St. Peter. This decoration is completed by two statues: the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It has been registered in the inventory of historical monuments since 1998.

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.

Built in the middle of the 19th century, this beautiful church, located opposite the town hall, was a symbol of the prosperity of the early years of the Second Empire. Today it is the largest and most vast religious building in Reunion Island. It is even one of the three largest churches (and not cathedrals) in the world with its 25 m high and its 1,000 m² surface area. For the record, the other two largest churches are in Saint-Louis of Senegal and Saint Louis of Missouri in the United States. In 1982, it was listed as a historical monument.

Built in 1732, it is the oldest known Christian building on the island. Rivière-Saint-Louis has long been the cradle of wood craftsmanship, thanks in particular to Father Delaporte, who trained in cabinet-making and basalt carving, as evidenced by the chapel's neo-Gothic-inspired liturgical furnishings. Particularly noteworthy are the choir, pulpit, nave and gallery. Listed as a historic monument since 1988, the chapel is perfectly preserved.

Built in 1840, the parish church of Saint-Benoît is in the neoclassical style, with a pure and symmetrical architecture. The massive aspect is reinforced by the visible stone and by the pairs of pilasters and columns. Its nave is supported by twelve basalt pillars in reference to the twelve apostles. Marble fonts have been preserved in the vestibule. Its stained glass windows made in 1960 in Nancy are remarkable. The church and the fountain on the square are worth a look. They are both listed as historical monuments.

The church in the village of Salazie is unmistakable. It is the second church of the parish built on the old one between 1939 and 1941 on the initiative of Father Bourasseau. It was the parishioners who built it, including the children! It follows the codes of Gothic architecture with its two flanking towers. On the façade, one can read: "Be queens in our house! "which reminds us that the Assumption is a dogma according to which the mother of Jesus was "raised to heaven".