Things to see and do Fianarantsoa

Specialities from the region: its vineyards, which produce white, red, grey or rosé. In all regions of Madagascar, you will be served the slopes of Betsileo, which also export to South Africa. If a visit to the vineyards and cellars you try, spend half a day on the coast of Famoriana, the coast of Isandra and other wines.

The Men's Lab is the landmark of the most famous photographer of the island. A place of work but also and especially a place of exhibition which allows to see Mada in the eye of the humanist photographer. One has the impression to travel all over the country and to discover the Malagasy from a new perspective. With a rare humanity and generosity, Pierrot Men is happy to discuss photography with residents and tourists. Call before coming if you want to meet him, because Pierrot Men is often on the road. We highly recommend a visit!

The life of the city is organized around several districts. Each of these centers is quite distant from each other. But the walk is pleasant: Fianar is green, with many trees; the streets are quite calm (except in the center) and wide.

We begin the walk by the "lower city", the surroundings of the railway station, before going up the street lined with counters and stores painted in pink ochre, blue ochre, red ochre. The station square is the meeting place of the gemstone merchants where the companies' buyers come to buy their supplies in the morning, at least when the train is running.

Going up, we will reach the "middle city": the surroundings of the market (zoma), the avenue that starts from the city hall and the surrounding streets where we will admire some beautiful examples of colonial architecture.

We will then go to the "upper city", which houses the oldest Christian church in the city. The upper town is magical at the end of the day (amber colors on the surroundings from the different viewpoints). Some routes are signposted in these alleys flanked by superb century-old buildings. You can also stay there (rehabilitated houses), but be careful, you have to climb a lot.

The climb, on foot or by car, to the belvedere (on the right of the square at the foot of the upper town), allows you to discover the panorama from the highest point of the town. The town, nestled between valleys and rice fields, stretches against a backdrop of mountains and wooded hills. Nice pictures in perspective!

Beginning its activity in 2008, Relais Madagasikara now gathers nearly 500 people. Being part of the social and solidarity economy, it carries out a work of integration of the inhabitants of Fianarantsoa and its surroundings:

Automobile construction. Le Relais has taken over the Karenjy car project abandoned in 1993, putting back on the road these easily identifiable fiberglass cars and the only 100% African cars.

Thrift shop and sorting. The clothes deposited in the dumpsters labeled "Le Relais" in France are partly sent to Madagascar and sorted before being redistributed. This is the activity that gave birth to Le Relais in Fianar, creating a local craze!

Sewing and creation. The Gash'Mlay workshop transforms and gives new life to unused fabrics.

Waste sorting and recovery center. Born from the absence of a waste treatment system in the city, the sorting center of Le Relais now receives 700 tons of waste per month. 115 people work on sorting and transforming organic matter into fertilizer, some of which will be used to develop permaculture.

Sustainable tourism. Le Relais has two establishments: the thermal hotel in Ranomafana and the Moringa in Tuléar. You will be able to meet the young and dynamic teams trained by Le Relais, in a logic of integration and solidarity. Thus the establishments put into practice the values of the Relais, for a sustainable tourism, in particular in the kitchen where the products are fresh and cultivated on the spot.

Information on the tourist sites of the city and the region. Monthly walks organised to discover the surroundings, the opportunity to make beautiful meetings.