Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
west coast, and it won't take long to feel that the city exudes an undeniably exotic atmo-
sphere. The town doesn't have anything fantastic to offer, but it is certainly worth a stop to
admire a handful of religious buildings, including a Tamil temple, a splendid mosque and
the biggest church on the island.
A highlight (and a major landmark, with its big chimneys) is the
Sucrerie du Gol
( 0262
91 05 47;
www.gqf.com
;
Rond-Point du Gol; adult/child €6/4; 9.30am-7pm Tue-Sat, tours by reservation)
, about
1.5km west of St-Louis. You can tour this old sugar refinery, one of only two on the island
still functioning, during the cane harvest (July to December). Visits take place Tuesday to
Saturday with prior reservation.
Car Jaune buses between St-Denis and St-Pierre run through St-Louis (about 10 daily).
Buses to Cilaos run from the bus station (€1.50, 12 daily, eight on Sunday).
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
LES MAKES & LA FENÊTRE
One of Réunion's best-kept secrets,
Les Makes
boasts a wonderful bucolic atmosphere and a lovely setting.
Snuggled into the seams of the Hauts, it's accessible via a tortuous secondary road from St-Louis (12km). At al-
most 1200m, breathing in the fresh alpine air here is enough therapy for a lifetime.
The area is ideal for stargazing. The
Observatoire astronomique
( 0262 37 86 83;
www.ilereunion.com/
observatoire-makes
; 18 Rue Georges Bizet, Les Makes; adult/child €9/5) offers stargazing programs from 9pm to
midnight. It's best to call ahead to confirm the program is on. Horse riding is also a terrific way of exploring the
surrounding forests. It can be arranged through
Centre Équestre de la Fenêtre
(
0262 37 88 74; Route de la
Fenêtre, Les Makes; per hr €18; Tue-Sat by reservation) .
It's a sin to visit Les Makes and not take the forest road that leads to
La Fenêtre
(The Window), another 10km
further uphill. Hold on to your hat and lift your jaw off the floor as you approach the viewpoint: the view over the
entire Cirque de Cilaos and the surrounding craggy summits that jab the skyline will be etched in your memory
forever. La Fenêtre is also a wonderful picnic spot. Hint: arrive early, before it gets cloudy.
Should you fall under the spell of this charming area (no doubt you will), you can bunk down at the
Le Vieil
Alambic - Chez Jean-Luc d'Eurveilher
( 0262 37 82 77;
www.levieilalambic.com
; 55 Rue Montplaisir,
Les Makes; d incl breakfast €55) , an adorable B&B on the road to La Fenêtre, with four uninspiring but tidy
rooms (no views) and highly respected traditional meals (from €26).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Entre-Deux & Le Dimitile
POP 5170
The sweet little village of Entre-Deux, high in the hills 18km north of St-Pierre, got its
name (which means 'between two') because it is situated on a ridge between two valleys -
