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Access: Head towards Saint-Louis and take the exit at the Bel-Air junction. Take the 2nd exit if coming from Saint-Pierre and the 4th if coming from Saint-Paul. Keep left at the next junction. Drive to the coach station (on the left) and turn immediately right towards the church. Go round the church on the right until you reach the car park.
(S/E) Start the walk by visiting the beautiful and imposing church of Saint-Louis. It is one of the three largest churches in the world. From the church entrance, take the street that runs straight ahead towards the town hall. It is lined with shops on both sides.
(1) Take the second exit at the roundabout and walk past Saint-Louis Town Hall and its fountain.
Then turn left onto the first street. This runs past a particularly remarkable temple: the Siva Chanmouga Naada Temple. You can’t miss it as it’s very colourful! You can visit it, but on condition that you don’t take any photos and don’t touch anything!This temple is regularly used by Hindus for their worship. It’s a fine example of people living together harmoniously, as the Church of Saint-Louis is just 100 metres away as the crow flies. At the next junction, carry straight on. To the left of this junction is the old market, which now houses only a few bars.
(2) When you reach a roundabout, take the second exit. There is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi on this roundabout.
(3) At the end of the road, carry on straight ahead and cross the industrial estate.
(4) At the roundabout, take the second exit and you’ll reach the cemetery. You can visit this beautiful cemetery if you allow a few extra minutes. The town of Saint-Louis has two cemeteries, but this is the main one. Go past the cemetery and take the first lane on the right. When you reach the road, turn right. Then keep left at every junction until you reach the Étang du Gol. You’ll then notice, on the seafront, that construction has begun on an ashram (in the Hindu religion, this is a place where the disciples of a group live around a guru so that he can teach them his teachings).
You’ll reach the Étang du Gol in barely 5 minutes. There are toilets here. The spot is very popular at weekends. Several tables and kiosks are available. On the opposite bank lie the remains of the old railway line that linked Saint-Paul to Saint-Pierre. Several species of bird live in this lake. It is one of Réunion’s three coastal lakes. It is flanked by two viewing points. To the right of the lake lies Étang Bel Air, which is much smaller. Take a few minutes to admire the two ponds, then take the first footbridge on the left after walking back a few metres. It crosses a marshy area and leads to a football pitch and a playground. Walk round the pitch on the right.
(5) Then ignore the next path on the right and turn left to walk alongside the pitch. At the end of the path, take a small track lined with beautiful coconut palms. It soon turns into a dirt track. Follow it to where it ends at the industrial estate. At the end, turn right, then right again at the next junction. Keep left at the next junction.
(6) At the end of the road, turn left onto the N2001 towards the Usine du Gol. Pass under the four-lane road and take the first dirt track on the left, then keep right immediately afterwards (if you want to see one of the two watchtowers, turn left at this junction). Then pass the Megakart and arrive at the Père Lafosse Cemetery. It is the smallest cemetery in St-Louis but is steeped in history (see the link under ‘Places to visit’). Many people walk past it without stopping to take a closer look.
(7) Then return to the previous junction via the same route.
(6) Turn left. Pass under the four-lane road again and take the third exit at the roundabout. Continue along Rue de l’Étang, then take the first road on the left.
(8) Then turn right at the stop sign. At this junction there is a particularly remarkable tree: it is a baobab. Very few people know there is one in Saint-Louis. This tree is well worth a look. To the left of this tree stands the former hospital of Saint-Louis: the Hôpital du Docteur Augustin Hoaraux (see the link under ‘Places to visit’).
Then turn left at the first junction and walk past the Masdjid Mubarack (or Saint-Louis Mosque). This is yet another example of people living together in harmony, as the church and the Tamil temple, Siva Chanmouga Naada, are just a few hundred metres away. Painted green and white, it is particularly noticeable from a distance thanks to its minaret. Keep to the left at the next two junctions, then continue straight on at the third. You’ll reach the junction with Rue du Général de Gaulle.
(9) Then cross a ravine (Ravine Goyaves) and turn left. From here, you can see the Saint-Louis aqueduct, which played an important role in supplying water to the factory (see the link in the ‘Things to see’ section). Today, the canal is no longer in use.
Take the second path on the right (Rue Borry de Saint-Vincent). At the stop sign, carry on straight ahead along a pleasant track. It passes between houses. Keep to the right at every junction until you reach the road. Follow it for a few metres and take the first path on the left. It crosses a ravine. Take the first right. There is a Tamil temple on the left at this junction. Follow the road to the Church of Notre-Dame du Cénacle.
(10) Walk past the church and up the road to the “Camp du Gol” bus stop, then turn immediately right to pass in front of a Tamil place of worship. Turn right, then left at the next two junctions. Cross a stream and take the second left (Rue du Père Christian Fontaine). This street passes a music school and a few frangipani trees.
(11) Keep to the right where the street ends onto Rue de Madrid. The descent is straight but gentle, with a constant view of Saint-Louis. At the end of the street, carry on straight ahead along a path which leads to a track: follow it. It passes some magnificent flowers. Follow this track until you reach Rue Martin Luther King (signposted to the left). Keep to the right at the junction with this street, and after a few metres turn left onto a lane. Then turn right onto the street, from where you can see the red and white antenna situated towards the end of the route. At the next junction, turn left to reach the junction with Rue du Général de Gaulle.
(9) Turn left onto this street. At the next junction, you can head to the MADOI (Museum of Decorative Arts of the Indian Ocean) by turning left. Otherwise, carry on straight ahead and turn right to pass by a football pitch where there is a drinking fountain. Then keep to the right until you reach the roundabout.
(12) At the roundabout, take the second exit. It is surrounded by flamboyant trees, which are very pretty in fine weather. Turn immediately right onto Allée des Tournesols. Turn right at the next two junctions. The path turns into a pleasant lane running alongside the Ravine Goyaves. From here, you can see an old footbridge and its derelict kiosk on the right: you’ll need to pass this way on the return journey. Follow the path to its end: watch out for dogs!
You’ll come to some houses under construction and reach the road (Rue Marius et Harry Leblond); follow it to the left. Turn left at the first path, then immediately right to pass in front of a Tamil temple. Turn right, then left, and right again at the next three junctions. Follow the road to its end. It climbs slightly and passes through the Roche-Maigre neighbourhood. Carry straight on at the stop sign. Turn left at the next junction, then right at the following one, and right again at the end of the street. Pass the Roche-Maigre church and turn left onto Rue du 20 Décembre 1848.
(13) At the next junction, head down to the right towards Ravine Goyaves. It is possible to walk back up to see some very beautiful ponds (this walk is recommended only for experienced walkers. See ‘Practical Information’). Continue straight on at the next junction, then keep left onto a narrow alleyway which turns into a lane. It leads to a car park. Turn right into an alleyway and take the first alleyway on the left. At the end of this, turn right, then take the first alleyway on the left again. This also turns into a lane.
(14) Then turn right onto Rue Auguste Larré. Carry straight on at the roundabout. Keep left at the end of the road. Just to the right of this junction is a charming little chapel. Then cross the Ravine de la Ouête. Turn right at the first junction, then left at the next. The street runs alongside a football pitch, offering a view of the hills. There are also a few bougainvilleas to be seen. Turn right again at the first street on the right. This leads to an old water tower. Keep to the right at the end of the street.
(15) Turn immediately right onto Rue Émile Zola. Take the path that starts at the end of the street. It’s a very pleasant walk and leads to a lovely spot amongst tall grass and trees. This is a former picnic area. It used to be possible to cross the stream via a long footbridge, but this is now in a poor state of repair. The remains of a promontory and a gazebo are visible before the footbridge. From here, the view of the surrounding area is lovely and the yellow grass looks particularly beautiful.
(16) Then return to the previous junction via the same route.
(15) Carry on straight ahead. Turn onto the first path on the left. Straight ahead is the red and white mast, visible for several kilometres around. At the roundabout, take the second exit.
(17) Turn into the first path on the right, then take the first lane on the right again. This passes in front of the Notre Dame du Rosaire Chapel. It is well known to the people of Saint-Louis and is quite a pretty sight. At the end of the street, turn left.
(18) After passing the first street on the left, carry on for a few metres and turn into the first street on the right. Take the first left, then turn right at the end of the street. You’ll pass the war memorial. Go past a pizzeria, then don’t miss the Maison Aubry (or Maison du Docteur Edwards) on your left. It’s listed as a historic monument (see the link under ‘Places to visit’).
(1) You will then reach a roundabout; take the second exit. Head for the car park (S/E).
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