Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
St-Joseph lies on Car Jaune's coastal bus route between St-Pierre and St-Benoît. In addi-
tion to the central bus station, buses stop in Petite Île, Vincendo and Manapany-les-Bains.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Around St-Joseph
Lose yourself in the Hauts! Starting from St-Joseph you can cherry-pick an itinerary in the
hinterland that takes in drowsy hamlets where locals all know each other, green-velvet
mountains cloaked in layers of wispy cloud, rolling sugar-cane fields, twisting roads and
panoramas to make the heart beat faster.
Follow the picturesque D3 that cuts inland before swinging northwestwards to
Manapany-Les-Hauts. You'll pass
Bésaves
and
Les Lianes
. You could also drive up to
Plaine-
des-Grègues
(follow the D32, which branches off the D3 in La Croisée), the highest village
of the area, which crouches in a bowl of mountains. This village is famed for its planta-
tions of curcuma and vetiver, which are both used in perfumery. Learn more about the vir-
tues (and fragrances) of these plants at the
Maison du Curcuma
(
0262 37 54 66;
. It also
www.maisonducurcuma.fr
; 14 Chemin du Rond, Plaine-des-Grègues;
9am-noon & 1.30-5pm)
sells delicious homemade marmalades and jams as well as locally grown spices.
Sleeping
Chez Nathalie Hoareau
( 0262 37 61 92;
www.giterunsud.com
;
205 Rue Edmond Albius, Bésaves; s/d incl breakfast €50/55; )
Get
back to basics at this welcoming village address in the gently rolling Hauts de St-Joseph.
It features three plain rooms at the back and a manicured garden. Breakfast, which is
served by the super-hospitable Nathalie, is a feast of delicious homemade jams. Sadly, no
dinner is offered, so you'll have to drive down to St-Joseph (7km). Prices drop by €5 if
you stay three nights or more. Cash only.
B&B
€€
