La Possession is a town in the north-western part of Reunion Island, bordering the Saint-Denis prefecture on the west coast of the coast.
The bay in the center of which the locality was going to develop was colonized in 1675 by a Frenchman, before a concession was attributed to a Portuguese who began the cultivation of sugarcane.
Originally a simple section of Saint-Paul (in the south), the commune was officially established in 1890 and five years later, the present territory of the Port (corresponding to Pointe des Galets) was detached.
Over the past 50 years, La Possession has grown considerably, from 7,500 inhabitants in 1967 to nearly 32,000 today. The creation of the "corniche" coastal road improving the link with the prefecture city partly explains this phenomenon, with a large part of the assets residing in La Possession working in Saint-Denis (north) or in economic units linked to the Port (South).
This development led to the creation of new urban areas, the installation of leisure facilities (stadiums, playgrounds, street parks) and the renovation of the city center.
For visitors, the city's number one asset remains natural: 80% of the 118 km² of the municipal territory covers Mafate, one of the three natural circuses of the Piton des Neiges massif. Mafate was formed by tectonic collapses and torrential erosions that over time created steep relief but rich biodiversity.
It is first of all the formidable natural heritage of La Possession that will delight tourists in search of change of scenery.
From the city, one goes hiking to the heights of the circus of Mafate, included in the National Park of Reunion and in all the pitons, circuses and ramparts inscribed since 2010 on the list of world heritage of the humanity of UNESCO. Attention: no road serves the interior of this exceptional natural site. Only experienced hikers can take the sometimes very delicate hiking trails to "negotiate", unless you choose the helicopter to be deposited directly in the heart of the site. In terms of biodiversity, the altitude of the site ranging from 250 to more than 3000 m, we note the black olive wood (a wild variety of the olive tree), orchids, "cabris marrons" (goats returned to the Wildlife) and seabirds that find safe havens here... Maps, brochures and information for hikers on +33 2 62 90 11 35 (National Park) or +33 2 62 90 78 78. Possibility to be accompanied by a guide.
The Rhoston Park, which was restored in 2014, is a rather delicate example of the city, and offers 30 hectares of orchards, including several hundreds of hundred-year-old mango trees. Trails (15, 30 or 120 minutes) cross the site, which is also dotted with picnic areas. Information on +33 2 62 22 20 02.
On the other hand, if the coastline of La Possession lends itself little to the pleasures of the beach (with the corniche road), it is however possible to rent a boat (on the Ravine area). Rates and information on +33 2 62 44 71 07.
Also, if you do not have a swim in the ocean you can get to the pool in the city center. Information on +33 2 62 22 20 34.
It remains to discover two elements of the historical patrimony of the municipality: the church Notre-Dame of the Assumption which was rebuilt in the twentieth century on the bases of a chapel built since 1835 and especially the Lazaretto. It is a building on the site of Grande Falaise built in the 19th century after the abolition of slavery in 1848: foreign labor (especially of Indian origin) was placed in quarantine as soon as its Before being directed to sugar cane farms. Closed in 1947, the lazaretto of La Possession was the subject of a restoration project and a permanent exhibition retraces the history of immigration in the island and this place in particular. Open every day except Mondays. Information on +33 2 62 22 20 02.
In the second week of May, the Vitadanse Festival aims to promote dance in all its forms and genres (shows, competitions, initiation courses).
In mid-July, over two days, book days (meetings with authors, readings, writing workshops).
The third Saturday of July, Semi-nocturnal Strides combine sport and conviviality.
Every Saturday, market with discovery of the products of the local soil and musical animations.
