Gateway to the Piton de La Fournaise, the flower-adorned town of Le Tampon invites you to adventure. Between hikes to one of the world's most active volcanoes and excursions to charming Creole villages, punctuate your journey with a picnic along the Plaine des Cafres forest road.

History

From 1725 onwards, colonists from Saint-Pierre gradually began settling inland on the island's higher elevations, with the blessing of the French East India Company. Their activities centered primarily on coffee cultivation.

The higher-altitude territory, blanketed in forests, was inhabited by maroons—escaped slaves. The Plaine des Cafres (Plains of the Cafres) owes its name to these fugitives.

From 1830 onwards, as elsewhere on the island, sugarcane plantations steadily expanded throughout the region. Gabriel Le Coat de Kerveguen established himself here and purchased the majority of concessions in the south to develop plantations. He built a veritable empire, even creating his own currency, the "Kreutzer," to pay his workers. This currency was declared illegal in 1880 following numerous legal challenges. Nevertheless, the Kerveguen family played a crucial role in Le Tampon's development, particularly in neighborhoods developed around the Grand Tampon and Terrain-Fleury factories.

Later, in 1925, Le Tampon was finally separated from Saint-Pierre and became a municipality in its own right.

Today

In southern Réunion, bordered by the Bras de la Plaine and Rivière des Remparts, Le Tampon appears as a charming town with flourishing gardens and beautiful Creole villas. The commune extends across the slopes of the Plaine des Cafres toward the sea. Within its territory of 18,030 hectares, it is home to more than 70,000 residents, making it the fourth-largest municipality on Réunion by population. While Le Tampon has no beach access, the region benefits from varied climatic conditions between 400 and 2,000 meters elevation. These microclimates, combined with diverse landscapes, offer undeniable advantages for agriculture, livestock raising, and tourism alike. Meanwhile, housing continues to expand in the perpetually growing town center, while villages and hamlets have developed in high-mountain and mid-country zones.

On the infrastructure side, Le Tampon hosts various educational institutions, a theater, artistic creation and exhibition spaces, and a media library. It is regarded as the cultural hub of southern Réunion. The municipality modernizes at its own pace with high-tech industry development, while preserving traditional craftsmanship revitalized through numerous events.

From a tourism standpoint, Le Tampon serves as your gateway to the Piton de La Fournaise, accessed via the Plaine des Cafres. Along the path to the volcano, numerous green spaces are perfect for a picnic. At Pas-de-Bellecombe, photography enthusiasts can capture breathtaking panoramas. If you plan to tour the craters, allow approximately three hours of hiking. Another worthwhile excursion leads to Bois-Court, culminating in a striking viewpoint over the village of Grand-Bassin nestled within the Bras-de-la-Plaine gorges.

For those preferring shorter outings, Le Tampon itself harbors equally fascinating sites. Among them, discover the Jean de Cambiaire Park laid out near the Le Tampon church. This public garden embodies the flower-adorned character of the town while serving as an authentic horticultural showcase. Towards late November, the garden comes alive during "Les Florilèges," featuring flower and plant exhibitions, performances, and the election of Miss Le Tampon. Another notable event, the Miel Vert (Green Honey) has been held annually in Plaine des Cafres since 1983, in January. This major traditional festival allows vendors to present their agricultural and livestock products (cattle, rabbits, pigs, goats, poultry, etc.). The Miss Plaine-des-Cafres pageant also takes place during this event.

Climate

Le Tampon enjoys a warm temperate climate classified as Cfa by Köppen-Geiger. Showers are frequent year-round, even during the driest months. Annual rainfall averages 1,383 mm. The average annual temperature is 20.7°C.

Its balanced climate makes it a pleasant place to stay during summer.

Le Tampon is easily accessible from Saint-Pierre via National Route 3, just 10 minutes' drive away.

What to Do in Le Tampon?

• Climb Piton de La Fournaise
• Organize an outdoor picnic along the volcano road
• Photograph landscapes from Pas-de-Bellecombe
• Stroll through Jean de Cambiaire Park
• Visit the village of Bois-Court, and more