On the west coast of Réunion island, Saint-Paul combines the best of a historic city and an authentic seaside resort. The island's first capital and birthplace of French colonization in the Indian Ocean, it seduces with colonial heritage, a celebrated open-air market, and proximity to west coast beaches. Here's what you need to know before visiting Saint-Paul.

Saint-Paul at a glance

• Location: west coast of Réunion, 25 km from Saint-Denis

• Status: oldest municipality on the island, former capital until 1738

• Must-see: open-air market (Friday-Saturday), marine cemetery, La Grand Cour

• Climate: dry tropical, 24°C average, 1,405 mm annual rainfall

• Best time to visit: May to November (dry season, outside hurricane season)

• Suggested duration: 1 to 2 days, as a west-coast base to explore further

A history central to the settlement of Réunion

The first reference to Saint-Paul appears on a map of Bourbon island established by knight Etienne de Flacourt, appointed by the French East India Company as commander of Madagascar and neighboring islands from 1649 to 1654.

On June 29, 1642, the city became the first landing site for the French during the second taking of possession of the Mascarene Islands. On November 10, 1663, Saint-Charles landed at Saint-Paul when Bourbon island was colonized and declared France's first base in the Indian Ocean.

The 17th century marked the beginning of the coffee era. Plantations developed rapidly thanks to the fertility of Réunion's soil, and coffee plants assured high yields. Having become a major settlement, Saint-Paul served as Réunion's capital. In 1738, governor Bertrand-François Mahé de Labourdonnais transferred the administrative center to Saint-Denis, considered better protected from potential maritime attacks. Saint-Paul remains the oldest municipality on Réunion.

What to do and see in Saint-Paul?

Saint-Paul benefits from an exceptional location on the "Leeward Coast,