Overview

The commune of Saint-Benoît, forty kilometers from Saint-Denis, is located In the French territory of La Reunion. It is the island's second-largest city, with 22,960 hectares, after Saint Paul. Nearly 38,000 people live there. It has a favorable climate for cultivating cane sugar plantations of unparalleled quality.
The city of St. Benedict was founded in 1815 due to the combined efforts of priest Teste and the then-governor Pierre Benoît Dumas, who had been colonizing the area since the 17th century.
The town of Saint-Benoît was restored and urbanized after a fire in 1950, although agricultural activity maintained a significant part of its economy. It is well-versed in the 1980s economic development after a complicated history.
Despite its rapid growth, Saint-Benoît has retained its values and traditions and even enriched its legacy, notably its coffee.

Do you want a tranquil getaway from the city's noise and pollution? The town of Saint-Benoît will provide you with the peace and tranquility you need.
In Saint-Benoît, the rain has carved a unique relief. With its lakes, waterfalls, primary woods, and indigenous plant and animal species, Saint-Benoît has positioned itself as a popular tourist destination in eastern France. It has managed to retain its distinct character thanks to its natural surroundings.
The city's boutiques, shells, and litchis are also well-known. There are several lakes, ponds, and waterfalls located throughout the city. Numerous majestic churches and stores are also found in the town of Saint Benoit.

Things to Do & See in Saint-Benoît

Visit Baroque St. Anne Church Saint-Benoît, One of the Island's Most Stunning Landmarks

On the island of Reunion, a Catholic church, one of the island's most magnificent, called St. Anne's Church, is located. As the district's most unique structure, the church is under the jurisdiction of Saint-Benoît as well as the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Denis de La Reunion.
Fr. Daubenberger, his parishioners, and children from Sunday school adorned the Church of St. Anne between 1921 and 1946, classified as a historical monument since 1982. Since it was designated a historical landmark on October 11, 1982, this church has been given extra protection.
Baroque-style moldings, statues, and cement gargoyles have been added to Montreal's Church of De saint. With its brightly colored walls, the Chapel of St. Therese stands out among the crowd.
The wedding scene from François Truffaut's 1968 film Mississippi Mermaid was shot here, which gives it an impression of holiness under its beautiful exterior.
It is regarded as one of the island's most stunning landmarks. Guided tours are available year-round for anyone interested in seeing it for themselves.

See Spectacular Waterfalls at Takamaka Valley

Thanks to a lengthy and gorgeous winding road, the Takamaka valley, located about 15 kilometers southwest of Saint-Benoît, is worth visiting. It was formed in Piton des Neiges lava flows, which the Marsouins River excavated. It's in the heart of St. Benedict's municipal boundaries, east of the island of Reunion.
The Takamaka Valley, which feeds two hydroelectric dams, can be seen from this spectacular belvedere.
Astounding views of awe-inspiring mountains covered in vegetation and some spectacular waterfalls! To see the Takamaka Valley at its best, you should visit on a clear day, perhaps even in the early morning hours, when there is less cloud cover.

Visit Bebour Forest

Reunion Island's Bébour Forest is one of the island's original, well-preserved forested areas. Reunion National Park surrounds it. Since the Piton des Neiges ceased to be active, the Bebour Forest has taken refuge in the area that was formerly known as the Cirque des Marsouins. Its 6,010 hectares of tropical forest are open to the public for exploration.
There are numerous routes and walking paths identified here, making it an excellent location for hiking.
The Bebour forest has a lot of diversity. Plants such as orchids, ferns, and crypto mess can be found there. All of the Bebour humid forest's butterflies, wild orchids, and tree ferns came together for your viewing enjoyment.

Explore Grand Etang(Big Pond), One of the largest lake

Near La Plaine-des-Palmistes in Saint-Benoît, Reunion, Grand Etang (big pond) is the island's most extensive and 's sole high-altitude volcanic lake that can be accessed after about twenty minutes of walking. It has a length of 1 km and a width of 500 m, and a height of 525 m. You won't find anything like the Grand Etang anywhere else.
The Bras d'Annette river carved out a broad basin in the Piton des Neiges massif tens of thousands of years ago. There were volcanoes of Piton de la Fournaise, which spewed out lava flows that penetrated the valley, crossed over to the Bras d'Annette, and blocked the Bras d'Annette river, which had previously flowed through.
This lake of hectares, surrounded by lofty basalt walls, provides a quiet, green landscape full of lush, untouched plant life surrounded by lush, unadulterated vegetation. As a result of the Grand Étang's sheltered location, various birds can raise their young there.
An easy-to-follow trail around the lake of around 4 kilometers provides an excellent opportunity to relax and recharge. There is a half-hour detour on the route for those who want to see the beautiful Bras d'Annette waterfalls, which flow into the Grand Étang!
After Hurricane Diwa led it to overflow in 2006, the ONF had to restrict the 'Grand Etang' path because water had inundated a trail that allowed visitors to complete a lap around the lake. Similar events occurred in 2007.
The Bras d'Annette waterfalls give some of the river's water, but most of it comes from high ramparts that encircle it. As a result, the lake's water has nowhere to go but through the porous volcanic rock.