Cimetière Paysager de Hell-Bourg

Cimetière Paysager de Hell-Bourg, one of the most beautiful historical sites in Reunion, located in the foothills of the Alps, is a well-kept cemetery with a few noteworthy burials. Visitors come for the tranquil ambiance and to see the flowers that adorn many of the gravestones and have practically taken over the cemetery. Visitors must zig-zag their way through the region because there is no clear path. Auguste Lacaussade, a Hell-Bourg poet, and the infamous Volcenay Zitte, a bandit who plagued the cities of St. Paul and St. Denis, are both buried here.

Hell-Bourg is a small village in the Salazie commune (administrative division) of the French overseas department of Reunion. It is the main community in the island's Cirque de Salazie and is named for the respected former admiral and island governor Anne Chrétien Louis de Hell. Previously the village had been named Bémaho.

Because Hell-Bourg is such a gorgeous little town, it's only fair that the cemetery is as well. The vista is worthy of its name; it is spectacular. However, your gaze will most likely be drawn to the flowers, which give the area a brilliant, colorful appearance. It's near the main street and well worth the detour.

Location: Salazie, Reunion