Churches and temples in Reunion island

 

The religious places in Reunion depict in a very nice way the big melting pot the island is: French, Indian, Africans, Chinese are the "locals" here. Islanders use their ethnic origins to define themselves as "Cafres " (African ancestry) "Z'oreilles " (born in mainland France), "malabars or Tamouls " (from Tamil Nadu southern India), " Z'arabes " (from Gujarat in northern India), "Chinois" (from China), "Malgaches" (from Madagascar), " Comores "(from Comores), "Petits blancs" (poor rural whites living in the highlands), or "Creoles blancs " (white landowners).

I would start with the really vivid colours of the Indian temple in St Andre (which is one of the most famous, although they are some spread over the whole island). Enjoy the mind-blowing colours (some part were just freshly painted) and rich decoration. I was really impressed when I arrived in front of it.

 

Then I would like to take you to the church "Notre Dame de la Lave" located in St Rose. It is called that way as during several eruptions the lava stopped at its door steps. It is really nice to see how good different religions may co-habitit...

La Plage de Tremblet et la route des laves, Reunion/ The frozen lava next to Tremblet in Reunion

 

In the south-east part of Reunion island, close to the crater of the active volcano Piton de la Fournaise one may visit and walk on the frozen lava...There are signs indicating the eruption year at different places. On advice of a friend we stopped close to the beach of Tremblet, where the 2007 eruption took place.

 

After a walk in a very greeny scenery we arrived on a beach: partly covered with black sand, partly with the frozen lava from 2007. The lava went up to the sea here...the colours in the lava stones were really breathtaking! We were told that there was so much lava that came out in 2007,  that the road was covered with 10 meters of it!