Réunion

Overview

Réunion is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, forming part of the Mascarene Islands along with Mauritius and Rodrigues. France has administered the island as an overseas department since 1946, giving it the same administrative status as a department in mainland France and making it a full member of both the European Union and the eurozone. The island's population is remarkably diverse, a mix of French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Malagasy-descended communities, and this multicultural heritage is reflected in the local Creole language, cuisine, and religious practice alike. The official language is French, though Réunion Creole dominates everyday communication.

Réunion is an overseas department of France (département d'outre-mer) in the Indian Ocean, and is therefore also part of the European Union.

Piton de la Fournaise, the island's active volcano and one of the most frequently erupting volcanoes in the world, remains relatively safe to approach since its eruptions are typically non-explosive, and the trail leading to its crater is one of the island's most popular experiences. Piton des Neiges, the island's highest peak and an extinct volcano rising to about 3,070 meters, along with the three massive calderas (cirques) surrounding it, Cilaos, Salazie, and Mafate, have formed a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010. Saint-Denis, the island's capital, with Creole villas and French colonial-era buildings, serves as Réunion's administrative and commercial center. Cilaos, a small town in the caldera of the same name, is known for its thermal springs and the extremely winding mountain road leading to it.

Réunion's three cirques, Cilaos, Salazie, and Mafate, the latter reachable only on foot or by helicopter due to its lack of road access, offer excellent terrain for hiking, with numerous multi-day routes served by mountain refuges. The island's coral reefs, mainly along the western coast, form part of the Réunion National Marine Reserve and offer excellent diving, though the eastern coast's strong surf makes it less suited to swimming. Observing nighttime eruptions of Piton de la Fournaise, viewable from a safe distance, is one of the island's most distinctive natural experiences. Local cuisine blends Creole, French, Indian, and Chinese influences, with cari, a curry-style dish served with rice, and rougail, a spiced tomato sauce, as signature items, complemented by the island's own vanilla production.