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The Cirques Réunion is a place of spectacular natural beauty and
one of its must-sees are its three main cirques, Cilaos, Mafate and
Salazie. A cirque (or caldera) is a natural amphitheatre, created
by a volcano collapsing in on itself. Salazie is perhaps the most
striking, covered with roughly 100 waterfalls, most notably The
Bride's Veil (Le Voile de la Mariée) near Hell-Bourg, as well as
lush vegetation. Cilaos has long been the site of a spa resort,
boasting thermal baths for the wealthy inhabitants of the area in
the 1800s. It was also once a refuge for runaway slaves. Today it
still known for the Irene Accot Thermal Centre; a must for weary
hikers. Mafate is the most remote of the cirques and its name is
derived from the Malagasy for 'lethal,' illustrating the difficulty
of accessing the area. Mafate is dotted with tiny hamlets (the
largest is La Nouvelle) and there are no proper roads, so the only
access is on foot. The cirques provide unparalleled hiking
opportunities and unspoilt wilderness, and are within a few hours
of Saint-Denis.
Piton de la Fournaise Réunion's shield volcano last erupted in July 2006 and
is currently one of the world's most active, along with Kilauea in
Hawaii. The volcano is spectacular and is one of the island's
principal attractions, rising 8,565 feet (2,611m) above sea level.
High cliffs, deep craters, le grand brûlé (the burnt slopes) and
lava streams create a stunning scene. In the past, lava streams
have flown into the sea, destroying the main highway along the way.
Eruptions usually occur within the caldera and therefore pose
little threat to people. The walk to the summit takes roughly five
hours and it is well worth finding out before hand about weather
conditions as cloud cover can roll in quickly, preventing hikers
from being able to make the climb. An alternative way to explore
the area is by helicopter, although this is a more expensive
option. Saint Paul, former capital of the island, is the closest
town to the volcano and has a lovely street market (on Friday
afternoons and Saturday mornings), two miles (3km) of black-sand
beaches, fine examples of traditional Creole houses, a seaside
cemetery and other historic sites.
Saint-Gilles-les-Bains Close to Saint-Paul on the north western side of the
island, Saint-Gilles-Les-Bains is a highly popular weekend
destination, offering a beautiful 12-mile (20km) lagoon and
gorgeous white, sandy beaches. Saint-Gilles was once a sleepy
fishing village, but now it is Réunion's most popular resort,
filling up with those seeking sun and fun. Snorkelling, diving and
swimming are a must, but those tired of the beach can head to the
Garden of Eden, a lovely botanical garden with roughly 700 species
of tropical plants. Saint-Gilles has plenty of hotels and
restaurants, though these tend to get very crowded at peak holiday
periods and weekends.
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