Villèle history museum

An old colonial property in the heights of Saint-Paul in Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts, the Villèle estate nowadays houses a museum telling the story of a rich family of colonists who shaped the history of the island in the 18th and 19th centuries. Now open to the public, the mansion that was once home to Madame Desbassayns, an iconic and controversial figure in the history of Réunion, recreates the living environment of the Desbassayns family during the dark times of slave-trading, with period furniture, historical documents and decorative art objects.

After visiting the history museum's permanent and temporary collections, the tour of the Villèle estate continues with the lush garden, the old slaves' hospital, the kitchen, the sugar factory ruins and the charming chapel, named Chapelle Pointue. This listed Historic Monument is architecturally original, shaped like a rotunda with a tall, pointed roof on top. Built in the 19th century at the request of Madame Desbassayns, it contains her tomb as well as a polychrome statue of St. Michael.

Not far from the estate, towards L'Éperon, shopaholics will find all they could wish for in the studios and boutiques of the craft village. Based on the site of an old sugar factory, this welcoming and relaxing place is sure to tempt you with its pottery, ceramics, stained glass, jewellery, clothing and other decorative objects!