Saint-Joseph, Réunion

Saint -Joseph is a municipality in the extreme south of the French overseas department of Réunion. It belongs to the district of Saint- Pierre. Saint -Joseph is not only the southernmost municipality of the department, but also the southernmost municipality of France and the European Union.

General

Saint -Joseph carries the zip code 97480 and has 36 401 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011).

Saint Joseph was founded in 1875 as the twelfth of today 24 communities on Réunion. The current mayor is Patrick Lebreton ( Parti Socialiste ).

Geography

Saint- Joseph is located on the rocky south coast of the island of Réunion to 21 ° 23 ' south latitude and 55 ° 37' east longitude, about 20 kilometers east of the next larger town of Saint- Pierre between the smaller communities Petite- Ile and Saint- Philippe.

The four main towns are, from west to east:

• Manapany -les- Bains
• Saint -Joseph
• Langevin
• Vincendo

Manapany -les- Bains

The still rapidly rising popularity of Manapany -les- Bains arises from the fact that here the only bay belongs to the municipality, which is suitable for swimming in the ocean, while the rest of the coastline is composed predominantly of cliffs. To protect the bathers from the strong sea breakwater were heaped up and set up a separate from the open sea basins. Manapany has become Nordréunionesen ( Dyonisins ) is a popular destination for weekend stays and holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the north. More and more tourists from the mainland and Europe prefer the traditional hospitality of sudistes and the ideal starting point for excursions to the lava flows, the volcano and the most beautiful hiking trails in the South of Reunion Island.

Saint -Joseph

The most important town in the municipality, which is named after and administrative center, located at about 30 m above sea level at the mouth of the Rivière des Remparts ( German as: " bulwark river " ) in the Indian Ocean. The river is so far one of up to 1,000 m deep in the volcanic rock canyon.

Langevin

In Langevin (50 m above sea level), one at the mouth of the river of the same name ( Rivière Langevin ) lying district, located at approximately 21 ° 15 ' south latitude, the Pointe de Langevin, the southernmost point of the European Union.

Vincendo

Vincendo (132 m above sea level) is Saint- Joseph is the second largest town in the municipality. In Vincendo is also located next to a primary school ( école primaire ), a College, a branch of the city government ( mairie annexe ). Just before it opens in the small bay of La Rentrée in the ocean, falls the Ravine Vincendo down over several waterfalls at sea level.

Other towns

Other towns include:

• Bras- Panon (135 m above sea level): east of Vincendo, on the National Road to Saint -Philippe
• Matouta (303 m): small village in the far east of the village, at the Ravine Basse Vallée, near the exit of the Vallée Heureuse ( German: " Happy Valley "); small primary school
• Jacques Payet ( 652 m): scattered settlement
• Parc Mouton ( 283 m)

Economy

In this particularly economically weak part Réunions the service sector, especially the public sector (government agencies, schools, etc.) dominates. Besides operating in the situated on the fertile southern slopes of the active volcano to this day Piton de la Fournaise community up to an altitude of over 1,000 m agriculture. It dominates sugarcane, but in addition also still many tropical fruits such as coconuts and guava are grown.

Tourist particular, play the popular hiking trails of the volcano and in the canyons of the two great rivers of Rivière des Remparts and Rivière Langevin an important role. The most popular are multi-day walks, perhaps by Roche- Plate.

The main aim for holidaymakers from France and now also from all over Europe and overseas is Manapany -les- Bains, located between Petite- Ile and Saint -Joseph. The protected natural salt water pool has a reputation as a salutary effect against rheumatic complaints for generations. An underground source of fresh water should affect this effect. Manapany -les- Bains is also an annual meeting place of the international surfers elite. The spot is considered to be extremely difficult and is only recommended for experienced surfers. The hamlet is largely untapped tourism, a handful of tourist providers offer their accommodations in small structures of various classes; Hotels there are none.

Personalities

• Maurice Bourgine (1879-1963), colonial administrator
• Jean -Louis Prianon (* 1960), long-distance runner