Piton de Bert, Mountain summit in Saint-Philippe, Réunion.
Piton de Bert is a volcanic summit on Réunion Island that rises 2,274 meters (7,461 feet) above sea level. It sits north of the Enclos Fouqué caldera within sight of Piton de la Fournaise.
The summit was named by Jean-Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent during his stay on Réunion in 1801, honouring Alexis Bert. Bert, an artillery officer born in Molsheim in 1764, had observed the Piton de la Fournaise eruption from the Grand Brûlé in June–July 1791, then led a reconnaissance mission there in late October with Joseph Hubert. He discovered and described the new summit crater, named Dolomieu in 1801.
The name honours Alexis Bert, the artillery officer from Molsheim who, with Joseph Hubert, reconnoitred the summit area in late October 1791 and described the new crater later named Dolomieu. Jean-Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent chose the dedication during his stay on the island in 1801. The peak is also called piton de Bois Vert.
Piton de Bert stands on the cliff edge above the northern Enclos Fouqué, reached on foot from the Saint-Philippe side of the massif; there is no road to the summit. The crest is bare lava with no shelter, and the ground is uneven, so allow time for the climb and watch the weather over the Enclos before setting out.
From the summit, visitors can see directly across to the Foc-Foc plateau and surrounding volcanic formations. This elevated position makes it a natural vantage point for observing the larger volcanic landscape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,345 contributors worldwide.