Saint Pierre combines a distinctive urban beach setting with markets and culture. Alongside Plage du centre-ville, the Marché forain, the colonial quarter, museums and places of remembrance all form part of the town’s character. Your travel decision can therefore take several interests into account: coastal scenery, markets, architecture and remembrance. Depending on what you are looking for on a trip, these different sides of Saint Pierre may carry different weight.
City Beach and Marché forain
According to the municipal description, Plage du centre-ville is the only beach on Réunion in the heart of a city. It has white sand on a clear lagoon protected by a reef. This brings a distinctive urban setting together with specific coastal features in one beach profile. For your travel decision, this is a different focus from markets, architecture and remembrance: here, the emphasis is on the connection between the city and the lagoon. The description thus covers both a specific beach landscape and its distinctive place in the town’s character.
The Marché forain has 500 market stalls. Two main sections are devoted to agriculture and food, and to crafts; there is also a separate area for associations. The number of stalls conveys the market’s scale, while its layout reflects its range of themes. The associations’ area is in addition to the two main sections. If markets are important to your travel interests, you can assess the Marché forain on these two aspects: size and variety of themes.
Colonial Quarter and Historic Sites
Saint Pierre’s colonial quarter includes traditional buildings such as the town hall, the church and Maison Morange. These three names provide specific architectural landmarks in the quarter. There are also many other sites and buildings of historic interest across Saint Pierre that are not protected. Their lack of protected status does not change their classification as places of historic interest. Their locations are also distinct: the three buildings are part of the colonial quarter, while the other sites and buildings are mentioned in relation to Saint Pierre as a whole.
Places of Remembrance and the Island’s History
In the town hall gardens, the bronze statue “Le Poilu” commemorates the residents of Saint Pierre who died in the First World War. It was created by sculptor Jean Boucher (1870–1939). Saint Pierre also has several museums devoted to the island’s history and culture, as well as numerous places of remembrance. Unlike the museums, whose subject matter encompasses the island, the statue commemorates residents who died in the war. This brings a specific local act of remembrance alongside a broader view of the island’s history and culture.
Discover more destinations: Entre-Deux, Saint-Joseph, Matouta, Le Tampon, Saint-Philippe, Cilaos, Les Avirons and Manapany-Les-Bains.
Return to the main travel overview: Saint Pierre.
