Réunion

Welcome to Réunion

Réunion is a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean. It is part of the Mascarene Islands and sits east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius. This sunny place has lots to offer visitors and its own special way of life.

The biggest city on the island is Saint-Denis. It is full of people from many different backgrounds. Long ago, before French people arrived, no one lived on Réunion. Today, people there speak Réunion Creole and French. The island became a part of France in 1946, which means it follows the same rules as places in Metropolitan France.

Réunion is famous for its warm weather, lovely beaches, and rich mix of cultures. People from places like East Africa, Malays, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Indians came to work there, making the island very colorful. The island has many green farms, especially for growing sugar.

The island has two big volcanoes: Piton de la Fournaise and Piton des Neiges. Piton de la Fournaise is still active and erupts sometimes, while Piton des Neiges is the highest point but no longer active. The island also has beautiful round valleys called cirques and many beaches with different colored sands.

Réunion’s culture is a mix of many traditions. People enjoy dancing to music like Sega and Maloya. They also love eating tasty foods such as rice, carry (a local curry), and rougail. The island celebrates special days like Réunion Freedom Day on December 20, marking the end of slavery in 1848, with concerts and dances.

Réunion is also a great place for activities like surfing and hiking. The Grand Raid ultramarathon is a big event that many people join. Football (soccer) is very popular, and many players from the island have gone on to play for the French national team.

The island has two international airports and a busy port in Le Port for travel and trade. Réunion is working to use more natural energy like wind and sun because it gets most of its power from oil.

Réunion does not have an official flag, but many people use one called “Lo Mavéli.” It shows a red triangle for the volcano Piton de la Fournaise on a blue background with five sunbeams, representing the different groups of people who live there.