📖 About Saint-Paul

Saint-Paul is a commune on the western coast of Réunion, the most populous commune in all of France's overseas territories with approximately 105,000 residents. The commune stretches from the coast to the island's volcanic interior, encompassing beaches, highlands, and the Mafate cirque. It was the first French settlement on Réunion.

The western coast enjoys the island's sunniest, driest weather—beaches from Boucan Canot to l'Hermitage attract tourists. The highland villages and Mafate (accessible only by foot or helicopter) preserve traditional life. Saint-Paul represents the full diversity of Réunion—beach resorts, historic town, and mountain wilderness.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Saint-Paul's economy combines beach tourism with commerce and services. The western lagoon beaches anchor Réunion's resort tourism industry. The large Friday market is a major commercial and tourist attraction. Services support the population. Some agriculture continues in the highlands. The commune benefits from French integration while leveraging its beach and mountain attractions.

Réunion Creole culture thrives—diverse communities from African, Indian, Chinese, and European backgrounds have blended. French is official; Creole is daily language. Multiple religions coexist—Catholic churches, Hindu temples, Chinese pagodas. Music includes maloya and séga. Food features multicultural influences—cari, rougail, samosas, dim sum. Saint-Paul embodies Réunion's cultural métissage in its largest commune.

📜 History

Saint-Paul was the first French settlement on Réunion, established in 1665 when mutineers from Madagascar landed here. The marine cemetery contains graves from this early period, including reputed pirate Olivier Levasseur ("La Buse"). Colonial development spread from this founding settlement.

Sugar plantations using slave labor defined the 18th-19th centuries. The capital moved to Saint-Denis for its harbor. Saint-Paul remained important as agricultural and commercial center. Beach tourism developed from the 1970s. Today Saint-Paul is Réunion's largest commune—beach resorts, historic heart, and mountain wilderness encompassed in France's most populated overseas commune.