Domaine du Café Grillé, Botanical garden in Pierrefonds, Saint-Pierre, Réunion Island, France.
The Domaine du Café Grillé is a botanical garden in Saint-Pierre laid out across multiple hectares with distinct plant zones. The grounds showcase coffee plants, orchids, bamboo groves, and a reconstructed forest section featuring plant species native to Réunion.
The garden emerged in an area historically dominated by coffee plantations. A section called 'L'île Bourbon lontan' records the island's agricultural changes from the 18th century onward, tracing how land use evolved over time.
The name reflects the roasting of coffee that once happened here, connecting the space to Réunion's agricultural identity. Walking through the themed sections, you see how plants relate to the island's cultural relationship with cultivation and land use.
The site is easy to navigate on foot, as the different zones are clearly separated from one another. It helps to arrive early in the day to see the plants in better light and avoid the midday heat.
On the grounds sits a traditional distillery that produces essential oils from local plants. This facility reveals how the garden's plant species remain connected to local craft practices and traditional uses.
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