Saint-Paul, Réunion

Saint-Paul

Réunion · West · 10 m

Description

Saint-Paul is the oldest settlement on Réunion, the bay where the first colonists landed in the seventeenth century, and it still holds the island's biggest market along the seafront every Friday and Saturday. Stalls run for a kilometre under the palms selling vanilla, rum arrangé, samosas and woven baskets. Behind the beach the marine cemetery holds the grave of the pirate Olivier Levasseur, whose undeciphered cryptogram has kept treasure hunters busy for three centuries. The road above the town climbs to the Maïdo viewpoint over the Cirque de Mafate. The market is the reason to time a visit to the end of the week.

Length of stay

Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)

Travel season

Best time to visit: May – November

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Highlights

  1. Friday and Saturday seafront market
  2. Maïdo viewpoint over Mafate(Day trip)
  3. Marine cemetery and the pirate's grave
  4. Rum arrangé and vanilla stalls
  5. Étang Saint-Paul nature reserve
  6. Grotte des Premiers Français
  7. Black sand bay and the seafront promenade
  8. Tamarin forest on the Maïdo road

Map view

More travel destinations in Réunion

Réunion country pageRéunion in the Explorer