Saint-Benoît, Réunion
Saint- Benoît is a municipality with 35,733 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) of the French overseas department of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. It is the seat of the prefecture and thus capital of the arrondissement of Saint- Benoît. The inhabitants of Saint- Benoît Bénédictins call themselves.
Geography
Saint- Benoît located 40 kilometers southeast of the capital of Réunion Saint- Denis on the east coast of the island. In the south the city borders on the Rivière de l' Est and the north by the Rivière des Roches.
Climate
The climate is tropical, it stays warm throughout the year and is characterized by trade winds. Rain falls about 100 days and the trade winds around 90 days per year.
History
The town was founded in 1733, the motives for the development of the area were the creation of new coffee plantations. In August 1809 succeeded the National Guard of the city as part of the Napoleonic Wars repel a British landing at Sainte- Rose.
Beginning of the 19th century acquired the community through the cultivation of coffee, vanilla and other spices for prosperity. To thank for that was the botanist Joseph Hubert, who had introduced the cultivation of many plants such as carnations. Later, the cultivation of sugar cane and sugar factories have been the most important economic factor.
1882 the railway was completed to Saint - Denis. 1950 destroyed in a large fire all the older buildings of the city center, which is why the city has little to offer tourists today.
Management
Saint- Benoît is the capital of the two cantons of Saint- Benoît -1 and Saint- Benoît -2.
Economy
The surrounding area of the city is fertile and well watered, it is considered " orchard " of the island. Saint- Benoît is also known for its orchid cultivation and the breeding of freshwater fish ( " bichiques ").
Twinning
Sons and daughters of the town
- Jean -Claude Fruteau ( b. 1947 ), French politician
- Joseph Hubert (1747-1825), French botanist
- Laurent Robert ( born 1975 ), French footballer