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Free tour of the town of Saint Pierre Saint of town the of tour Free

trees in Saint Pierre Saint in trees Familiar and less familiar familiar less and Familiar : Ah-Fane) (Collection Trees to be visited to Trees tree Interesting 30-minute tour 30-minute tour 50-minute tour 1hour-30minute 2-hour tour Viewpoint 5 A view of the rue des Bons Enfants, December 1965. December A view of the rue des Bons Enfants,

The CAUE of Reunion (Conseil d’Architecture, d’Urbanisme et de l’Environnement : The Architecture, Town Planning and Environment Council), with the Heritage Department of the Cultural Services of the town of Saint Pierre organise guided tours to visit various trees in the centre of Saint Pierre, along the sea-front and in the neighbourhood of Terre-Sainte. This brochure gives the summary of the tour and will enable you to visit these trees, so important for the town and for its inhabitants, at your leisure.

‘In town, a tree transmits a message. First of all, it is a symbol of life in a landscape of glass and metal. In addition, through its beauty, it expresses the contrast between the living and the inanimate. It also represents silence in our noisy universe. Finally, it should inspire in us respect for life.’ Théodore Monod, naturalist. (1902 – 2000)

Brochure issued by the CAUE of Reunion and the Town Council of Saint Pierre, with the collaboration of Isabelle Hoarau (ethno- biologist).

CAUE : 0262 21 60 86 / www.caue974.com Heritage Department : 0262 96 29 10

Our thanks to our financial partners : The Town Council of Saint Pierre, the DACOI 100 m (Ministry of Culture) and the General Council of Reunion. N Flamboyants at crossroads: Ficus growing on a wall: Ficus reflexa Portia tree: Thespesia populnea Takamaka: Calophyllum inophyllum Delonix regia 1 4 7 10 13, rue Archambaud Garden of the town hall Car park of the music academy Crossroads between rue Four à Chaux and rue Barquisseau This old Portia tree, located a stone’s throw from This tree, native to , Seychelles the town hall, shows how a tree can withstand the The branches of the tree provide welcome shade, a ‘Admittedly, the flamboyant produces a pale and , grows on a wall and appears effects of the urban environment. respite from the bustle of the city. yellow wood too soft to be used in carpentry. to have no trunk. Despite its poor condition, it stands as a survivor You can see at a glance why the tree is so solid. Admittedly, its medicinal properties are limited ‘Life finds a way’, even in the concrete of our and witnesses the forces of nature. Its dense, reddish-brown fine-grain wood is greatly to the use of its bark to treat rheumatism and its towns. It remains remarkable for its huge trunk, as well as sought-after by carpenters. seeds can just be used to make necklaces and its lovely yellow blossom. The scarcity of the species bracelets. in the island’s town centres adds to its exceptional But we can’t expect it to have all possible virtues. character. Is not its mere beauty sufficient? Its beauty and its many whims.’

Origine du Flamboyant. Volume 1 ‘Fleurs de Bourbon’ R. Lavergne p 187. 20th .

Ear tree: 5 Enterolobium cyclocarpum Araucarias: Araucaria columnaris Garden of the town hall Bishop’s hat or box fruit: 2 8 Garden of the town hall This tree produces fruits that are brown pods, curled Barringtonia asiatica up in the shape of an ear, which explains its name. Car park of the music academy These trees are true landmarks in the urban This huge specimen soars skywards between the Banyans: Ficus benghalensis environment. They indicate the location of the A tree that commonly grows along the coast, its 11 rue François de Mahy and the town hall, its huge fruit in the shape of a bishop’s hat, which explains Terre - Sainte town hall and fishermen out at sea are said to roots lifting up the concrete for several metres use them to find their way. its local name. around, as though it wished to break free. A few These trees often have a massive trunk. ‘We have seen these trees growing since we were other trees have grown up under its boughs, but Both these huge specimens have been growing in small! They’re at least 60 years old!’ ‘A symbol of energy and strength, emblem of they remain insignificant in comparison with the elevation.’ this very busy car park for decades, but appear to An aged couple sitting in the shade of the banyan trees. giant above them, standing like a king surrounded be in good health. Magie des arbres de la Réunion, J.F. Sam-Long. by his vassals. People come out of their houses to sit in the shade of these trees. Thanks to these banyans, the former, very arid, sea front is now a spot where people get together for a chat.

Stinkwood: Foetidia Mauritania Media-centre banyan: Beachside garden 3 9 Trees of a Hindu temple Garden of the town hall 6 Ficus benghalensis Sea-front 12 Terre - Sainte Raphaël Barquisseau Media Centre This species, endemic to Reunion and , has been over-exploited in the island’s forests ‘This living cathedral can only inspire respect and Created in 2001, on the site of a former car park, this and remains very scarce in our towns. meditation’ garden reflects the desire to see the town centre ‘This tree, which oozes a foul-smelling oily sap, is Roger Lavergne. opening out towards the sea. greatly appreciated in the construction industry. As it is highly resistant to rotting, you can find In Hindu mythology, the banyan represents eternal When the garden was created, it was decided to timber structures that, one century later, look as life. The tree spreads out, with its roots growing retain these magnificent banyan and tropical though they were made of fresh timber and are haphazardly out of its branches, an explanation of almond trees. still impregnated with oil.’ its Sanskrit name of bahupada: ‘the one with many They offer welcome shade and are a link between E.J. Decordemoy 1895. 100 plantes endémiques et indigenes feet’. town and beach. de la Réunion.

View of a Hindu temple: to the left, the Persian lilac tree, to the right, the pigeon-wood. Since it was built around 1920, the temple has had two trees, symbolic for the Hindu religion, growing in its courtyard.

Persian lilac: Melia azedarach Its leaves are used for decoration in Hindu ceremonies and during fire-walking ceremonies. In the 1950s, the Persian lilac was used to manufacture hand-made chairs in the region of A fresco inside the Hindu temple of Terre-Sainte, representing the Gol around Etang Salé. Shiva meditating under a banyan. Pigeon wood or bastard cedar: Guazuma ulmifolia Its Creole name (Jacquot) recalls the jester figure in Hindu culture, a person incarnating the monkey god Hanuman during religious processions.