Tucked away from the wind and the sea swell, along the north-west coast of Réunion, the municipality of Saint-Paul offers a good many leisure and sightseeing opportunities to its visitors in search of a change of scene and a chance to unwind. Its vast territory indeed includes the island's most beautiful beaches. Those of Boucan Canot, L'Ermitage and Saline-les-Bains, to name but a few, will delight you with their fine sand and wonderful swimming waters! Meanwhile, sports enthusiasts can enjoy a range of water sports such as sea kayaking, sailing and snorkelling.

If you are in the area at the end of the week, don't miss the famous open-air market in Saint-Paul, which is held every Friday and Saturday morning on the seafront esplanade. Considered as one of Réunion's most picturesque markets, this colourful, flavourful event is sure to charm you, with its wonderful stands of local fruit and vegetables, spices, chilli peppers, honey and crafts. During your shopping trip, be sure to take a break and try the delicious chilli pepper sweets, samosas and other Creole specialities available there! A real treat…

Not far from there, you can take a little walk to the Saint-Paul wharf to admire the bay and the Indian Ocean, before heading to the charming Place du Général de Gaulle, located in the city centre, where you can not only see the elegant façade of the city hall but also relax near the fountain, in the shade of the trees and palms. Joggers and walkers will enjoy a trip to the Saint-Paul pond, a protected area and listed National Nature Reserve, or they might opt for a walk or run along the sea, maybe following the pleasant fitness trail in the national forest.

At the southern exit from the city, towards Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, lies the Saint-Paul marine cemetery, a particularly picturesque site and a listed historic monument. Established next to the ocean along a beautiful black sand beach, this unique place contains the graves of famous people like the poet Leconte de Lisle, the painter Arthur Grimaud or the pirate Olivier Levasseur aka La Buse (The Buzzard). Opposite the cemetery, on the other side of the main road, you can enjoy a very pleasant picnic in the Premiers Français cave park. This cavern, now closed to the public, is where the island's first French settlers are thought to have found refuge…

Located by the seaside on the west coast of Réunion, at the north exit of the town of Saint-Leu, the Kélonia site is not just a place for raising awareness of the environment and sea turtles; it is also a research and treatment centre for these protected species. At the centre, sick or injured turtles are cared for before being released into the ocean once they have recovered.

Open to visitors, the sea turtle observatory has a three-part museum trail for you to follow: the Discovery area, where you can see the various environments inhabited by these marine reptiles during the course of their biological cycle, and admire several species of sea turtles in a huge open-air pool; the Confrontation room, where the exhibition documents the close links between human societies and sea turtles in different eras and places; and the Future area, equipped with multimedia and interactive displays, addressing the issue of how to preserve these endangered species and their habitats.

For a scenic way to round off your visit, be sure to go up to the top of the observation tower. From there you will have a lovely view of Kélonia's pools and the Bay of Saint-Leu! Before leaving the area, you can also pay a visit to the centre's gift shop selling local craft items.

In the heights of Saint-Leu, at Les Colimaçons, lies a wonderful estate devoted to plant life on Réunion. In this haven of peace and tranquillity, full of native plants and other rare species, you can enjoy a pleasant walk to discover some exceptional plant collections. The Coffee Bushes collection, Bamboo Ravine collection, Historical Plants collection, Orchard collection, Réunion collection, Succulents collection, Palm Trees collection, and Orchids and Ferns collection boast a range of remarkable plants that you can admire in the different parts of the estate! Lovers of built heritage also have the opportunity to visit a delightful Creole house that once belonged to the Marquis de Chateauvieux.

Guided tours of the Réunion, Orchard and Historical Plants collections are also available for all those who want to find out more about these three botanical areas.

Based in an old sugar factory in the municipality of Saint-Leu, the Stella Matutina Museum, which has been awarded the Musée de France label, tells the story of sugar cane cultivation and the sugar industry on Réunion in its various exhibition areas. Fully rehabilitated and reopened to the public in June 2015, this industrial site converted into a cultural destination offers a remarkable journey through the history of sugar on the Bourbon island. On a visit to this most interesting attraction, you can learn all about the world of sugar, from the development of sugar technology to the secrets of sugar manufacturing, through the importance of this industry to Réunion society…

The Stella Matutina site also contains an auditorium with 400 seats, a 4D cinema, a documentation centre, educational areas, a temporary exhibition room, and a gift shop selling local crafts.

Accessible from the Le Guillaume district in Saint-Paul via a long, winding road, the belvedere on the Piton Maïdo peak is a must-see sight on the island of Réunion. Perched at an altitude of 2,205 metres, this impressive cliff-edge balcony not only offers an exceptional view of the famous natural cirque of Mafate and its dizzying ramparts, but also a magnificent view of the island's west coast! To fully appreciate these unique landscapes, you must get there early in the morning, before the clouds come in…

As you go back down towards Le Guillaume, you can take a short break at one of the many picnic kiosks along the roadside, some of which even enjoy direct views of the coastline and the Indian Ocean!

Standing on the edge of the Indian Ocean, on the south-west coast of Réunion, the lovely Town of Art and History of Saint-Pierre invites all lovers of built heritage to come and admire its architectural treasures. In the historic centre there are still some delightful Creole villas full of period charm, like the house of the Motais de Narbonne, erected in the 1820s, and that of Adam de Villiers, built in the 1760s. When it comes to religious architecture, there are some beautiful buildings such as the Church of St Peter and St Paul from the 18th century, the Attâyab-ul-Massâdid mosque with its minaret 42 metres high, the Guan Di Chinese temple dating from the early 20th century, and Narasinga Péroumal Tamil temple. These four different places of worship are a wonderful example of the harmonious blend of cultures in the island's population…

Before heading for the seafront, you can also pay a visit to the charming Place de la Mairie, to admire its pretty fountain and the elegant city hall set in an old building that belonged to the French East India Compmany. Alternatively you can head over to Rue Victor le Vigoureux and discover its famous covered market. Open every day except Sunday, the latter is a big metal structure full of lovely stalls selling fruit and vegetables, spices and crafts from the local area and Madagascar.

Popular with residents and tourists alike, the pleasant seafront of Saint-Pierre is particularly attractive with its golden sand beach, marina and embankments that are ideal for a stroll. If you take a walk near the harbour, you will see the picturesque dry dock, a listed historic monument, and its little fishing boats. Nearby, you can lay out your towel on the warm sand of the welcoming beach, which has showers and a lifeguard station, before going for a swim in the lagoon's peaceful waters.

Located in the south of Réunion, between Le Bras de la Plaine and Le Bras de Cilaos, the characterful village of L'Entre-Deux, which remained unspoilt for a long time due to being hard to access, has preserved a number of typical Creole cottages known as cases créoles. To discover them, a map of a Creole house circuit is available from the Tourist Office. There is also a guided tour of 1h30 for built heritage enthusiasts. And for a little rest after touring the village's delightful homes, what could be nicer than a short stop by the beautiful arboretum full of native tree varieties, located near the Tourist Office…

This charming, green holiday resort in the Hauts area of the island is also known for its crafts and in particular weaving giant cabuya, a succulent plant from the agavaceae family that is known locally as choca. This traditional activity, which is still kept alive in L'Entre-Deux, is honoured every July at the Choca Festival, with a programme of craft demonstrations and giant cabuya-based dishes!

Nestled at the heart of a magnificent cirque, at around 1,200 metres in altitude, the spa resort of Cilaos not only enjoys an exceptional environment but also a pleasant climate and plenty of sunshine. Accessible via a narrow, winding road with no fewer than 400 bends, this pretty little town in the Hauts area of the island lies at the foot of the famous Piton des Neiges.

The ideal starting point for a hike to the nearby beauty spots, Cilaos also has many shops, restaurants and accommodation that make it a popular stopover for visitors and ramblers.

With its spa offering well-being and fitness treatments, Réunion's only spa resort is also popular with fans of relaxation and hikers who come to unwind after a long walk, like the tough ascent of the Piton des Neiges! Specialising in the prevention and treatment of rheumatism and digestive disorders, as well as hydrotherapy services, the Cilaos thermal baths also offer complementary treatments such as a sauna, Turkish bath, manual relaxation and seaweed body wraps.

Not far away, heading back towards the city centre, you can stop by the beautiful Church of Our Lady of the Snow (Notre-Dame-des-Neiges) and its charming floral garden, before going for a stroll along Rue du Père Boiteau, a lively place dotted with shops and restaurants. For a spot of shopping, head to the small covered market that not only sells the cirque's most famous specialities, such as wine, sparkling water and Cilaos lentils, but also spices and macerated rums. To stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables, regional produce and craft items, bear in mind that there is a great outdoor market every Sunday morning on Rue des Écoles.

Before setting off for a hike in the area around the town, you can also visit the Cilaos Wine Cellar and its House of Wines, an essential place to go for anyone wanting to learn more about this vineyard and its production. Or you can discover the House of Embroidery, where you can admire some beautiful examples of traditional embroidery, with skills passed on down the generations. The pleasant pond of Mare à Joncs, not far away, is ideal for a little family outing: pedalo, kayak and electric boat rides will delight children and grown-ups alike!

Anyone passing by in October should be sure not to miss the lentil festival that takes place during the harvest every year. During this celebratory event, the famous pulse from the Cilaos cirque is honoured with exhibitions, lectures, entertainment, tastings and a gastronomy competition.

Located in the Hauts de Saint-André, to the north-east of the island, the Salazie cirque is not only the most verdant but also the most accessible of all the cirques on Réunion. A UNESCO World Heritage Site like its neighbours Mafate and Cilaos, this unspoilt territory with a humid climate and abundant vegetation has many waterfalls among its mountainous ramparts. The most impressive is indisputably that of the "Bride's Veil" (Voile de la Mariée), an immense waterfall that splits into several small ones, which you can admire from the road between Salazie and Hell-Bourg! The climatic conditions of Salazie also make it ideal for growing chayote, known locally as chouchou, the famous vegetable belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family that people on Réunion particularly enjoy in a gratin, and which you can sample in many local restaurants… In fact, a chouchou festival takes place every June in Hell-Bourg, an event full of flavours and activities celebrating the local emblem.

A haven of peace and greenery, the Salazie cirque invites you to explore its lush landscapes, during a hike on its marked paths or a bicycle or car trip along its peaceful little roads among the vegetation. As well as its magnificent unspoilt environment, this flagship destination of Réunion National Park also boasts a remarkable built heritage, as evidenced by the Hell-Bourg islet, a magnificent little village listed among France's most beautiful villages, which still have some lovely Creole houses with colourful façades that were built during its heyday as a spa destination. The superb Folio house is open to visitors and is sure to delight you with its refined style and charming tropical garden!

Heritage enthusiasts will also want to stop at Grand Îlet, a village perched at an altitude of around 1,100 metres, where the flagship edifice is the splendid Church of St Martin, a listed Historic Monument whose walls are covered with tamarind shingle. From there you can travel along the Bélier road, a beautiful itinerary through the Hauts forest that will guide you all the way to the Col des Boeufs car park, the starting point for the famous walking trail to the Mafate cirque.

To enjoy magnificent views over the Salazie cirque, hikers should be sure to take the footpath between Hell-Bourg and the Bélouve plateau (medium difficulty - 600 metres change in altitude - 3h30 return trip). The efforts made during the ascent will be rewarded upon arrival by an exceptional panoramic view of the verdant Salazie cirque and the famous Piton des Neiges. There is also a particularly well-landscaped esplanade where you can take a well-deserved picnic break!

The hike to the Anchaing Piton departing from the Îlet à Vidot (medium difficulty - 750 metres change in altitude - 4h30 return trip), not recommended for people prone to vertigo, will reveal fabulous viewpoints over the whole Salazie cirque…

Departing from Hell-Bourg, a lovely and pleasant walk (medium difficulty - 600 metres in altitude - 4-hour circuit) will enable you to discover not only the Manouilh spring but also a majestic cryptomeria forest!