Destination illustration
Réunion
Destination overview
About this destination
Réunion is a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. Saint-Denis is its main administrative centre. The island has volcanic origins and a mountainous interior.
Piton de la Fournaise is an active volcano, while Piton des Neiges forms another major landmark. Deep natural cirques create distinctive inland landscapes. French is the official language, and Réunion Creole is widely spoken.
Its cultural traditions reflect African, European, Indian and other Indian Ocean connections. Coastal towns, mountain villages and varied food traditions provide a contrast between everyday island life and the dramatic volcanic environment.
My connection
I visited Réunion during French Navy service aboard Tianee, working as an electrician on assignments that included refurbishment of first-class mooring buoys used for warships. The island was also a transit point in the delivery journey of frigates bound for Taiwan. These were professional maritime visits, bringing together maintenance work in the Indian Ocean and the wider passage towards East Asia. Réunion therefore connects two parts of my naval experience: support-vessel service and the Taiwan frigate programme.