Things to see and do Sainte-Suzanne

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.

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.

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.

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.

On the bed of the St. Suzanne River, there is still a basin accessible from the village of Bagatelle, located between the Nicole Basin and Niagara Falls. It is fed by a small waterfall from the Sèche ravine. On the left bank side, you will be able to reach another small waterfall above it in a few minutes of walk. A toboggan evacuates the water from the bassin Rond, which gives the opportunity for a very pleasant stop during the hike coming from the Abondance. At the football pitch, take the direction of La Grande-Ravine.

What if you were to rediscover the secrets of "galabé", the long-defunct sweet of yesteryear? After years of research and testing, Alexis Rivière, from a family with deep roots in the island's sugar and farming history, has revived the production of this traditional Reunionese sweet, which is still fondly remembered by old-timers. In 2022, in the heart of the Beau Pays, on the historic Bel Air farm in Sainte-Suzanne, the site of the family business, Alexis set up his own factory, the Payet & Rivière micro-sugar factory. Visitors will be able to discover the galabé production process, now used in all its forms by top pastry chefs on Réunion Island and in mainland France, and taste the product. "Galabé" also represents a whole range of by-products (lontan sweets, syrups, spreads, etc.) that you can discover on site. But it's also a unique experience for visitors, evoking the history of the family, the plantation, and the various stages in the cultivation and processing of sugarcane. Of the estate's 200 hectares, three are reserved for the micro-sugar factory. These areas are now cultivated according to the principles of organic farming, a first on Réunion Island. The Payet & Rivière estate and micro-sugar factory complement visits to the two major sugar factories (Bois-Rouge and Le Gol), along with the Stella Matutina Museum and the Saga of Rum. An experience not to be missed.

The estate of Marencourt, which covers 26 ha, is mainly devoted to the cultivation of cane. The owners' house, a beautiful mansion flanked by two red turrets, sometimes illustrates the tourist brochures. But in reality, once built in wood cladding, it was largely destroyed during the cyclone of 1962 and then rebuilt as a permanent structure. Only one of the outer walls is still original. The estate dates back to the 19th century and was bought in 1890 by Édouard Manès, one of the last governors of Reunion Island.

Upstream of the Bassin Boeuf is the Bassin Grondin, which can be reached by parking a little higher up and at the cost of a nice hike in the undergrowth, dotted with guava trees between April and June. The site is ideal for an introduction to canyoning: jumps, zip lines, abseiling... Be careful however, in case of heavy rain, the waterfalls triple in volume and the pools fill up in a few minutes, crossed by destructive currents. If it rains or the sky is threatening, even far upstream, don't risk it and turn back.