What is an "ilet" ?
The "ilet"s are small villages isolated compounds only a few houses. At the reunion island, these islets are often installed in circuses on trays cultivable.
The "ilets" of Mafate
On the administrative plan, Mafate depends on 2 municipalities :
- All the part to the right of the river "Rivière des Galets" (la Nouvelle, Aurère, Grand-Place, îlet à Bourse, îlet à Malheur and the Plaine aux sables) depends on The Possession
- The left part (Marla, Roche-Plate, Ilet-des-Orangers) depends on Saint Paul.
The inhabitants of Mafate - makes their administratives procedures and shopping to Cilaos or to Salazie according to " their ilet of residence "
The ilets of the Mafate (and the ilet des Salazes - col du Taîbit - Cilaos) are the only inhabited zones being in the perimeter of the heart of the National Natural park of Reunion. The classification of zones lived in the National park is a recognition of the big interest of the cultural landscape born of their populating.
The situation of villages of Mafate
The map below present the situation of ilets ( small villages) of Mafate - Click above to enlarge it.
- The villages of Mafate (Reunion)
Les ilets de Mafate du sud au nord
From south to north, îlets is the following ones :
- Marla is the highest îlets (env. 1 600 m. of height). Marla would mean "lot of people" in Malagasy. Situated at feet of the col du Taïbit, on the path towards Cilaos, it is the crossroads of the paths of big randonné R1 and R2 respectively towards La Nouvelle and Roche Plate.
- La Nouvelle is the îlet the most "developed" of Mafate. It is the "most tourist": it is the one which offers most possibilities of accommodation. Situated on a plateau in 1.400 m. of height, it is rather "accessible", in particular via the Col des Boeufs (Salazie)
- Roche Plate is situated at feet of Maïdo on the GR R2 crossing all the island. The îlet is separated from the bed of the River "Rivière des Galets" by The Bronchard
- Ilets Les Orangers and Les Lataniers, both placed in the northwest of the cirque. They are installed on grounds declared partially inconstructibles.
- L’îlet à Bourse, in the North of Grand Place, is a pleasant small village which we reach in particular by coming from Salazie.
- More in the North, Aurère and îlet à Malheur : Aurère is on an attractive plateau, with magnificent points of view around. L’îlet à Malheur is sadly famous by a bloody episode of the "Marrons" (slaves) hunting in 1829.
Retour à la rubrique : la vie à Mafate