Sainte Rose

In April 1977, Piton de la Fournaise broke out of its usual confines, and a lava flow descended straight toward the village of Piton Sainte-Rose. It cut through the gardens, engulfed houses, reached the Notre-Dame-des-Laves church… and split in two. The lava flowed around the building, entered through the main door, stopped abruptly at the entrance, and continued on its way toward the sea. The church is still there, surrounded by solidified basalt, and visitors can still tour it; its modern stained-glass windows tell the story of the event. Whether you’re a believer or not, the place leaves no one indifferent.

It’s a two-hour drive from the residence to reach this fishing village on the windward coast, where the landscape is a world apart from the west: it rains almost every day, the vegetation is lush, and the ocean crashes directly against the black cliffs with no lagoon to cushion the impact.

Then continue on to Anse des Cascades, a few kilometers further: a cove lined with century-old palm trees where waterfalls plunge directly into the ocean, featuring a small, colorful fishing port, picnic tables under the trees, and an atmosphere that feels like the end of the world.