Sainte-Marie

Where the name comes from

Legend has it that in 1667 the crew of a ship in distress vowed to build a religious monument if they survived the storm. When the miracle came to pass, the sailors kept their promise on the site that became the municipality of Sainte-Marie. Today the island's gateway, it is home to Roland Garros Airport.

History

Settled north-east of Saint-Denis as early as the 17th century, Sainte-Marie was one of the first farming municipalities on the north coast, with its sugar-cane plantations and tropical fruit orchards. The municipality's name honours the Virgin Mary, revered by the first Catholic settlers who made their home on these fertile lands watered by the Rivière Sainte-Marie.

The opening of Roland Garros Airport in 1947 radically transformed the municipality: the island's first airport made Sainte-Marie Réunion's main gateway. Its gradual expansion during the 20th century went hand in hand with the development of adjoining business parks and strong population growth as Saint-Denis spread outwards.

Now part of the northern Saint-Denis conurbation, Sainte-Marie combines an industrial and logistics role with farmland and natural areas preserved in its uplands. The municipality is the first point of contact with the island for millions of visitors every year, and its economy is closely tied to airport and freight activities.

Landscapes

Sainte-Marie stretches along the north coast between Saint-Denis and Sainte-Suzanne, in a low-lying area with gentle relief. The coastline is rocky and the coastal plains are intensively farmed or built up. The hinterland rises gently towards the wooded hills of the uplands.

Local culture

Sainte-Marie has developed the identity of a dynamic suburban municipality, strongly influenced by its proximity to Saint-Denis and by the airport. Local farmers' markets and farming in the uplands keep up a link with Réunion's rural traditions, in contrast with the economic development of the lower part of the municipality.

Why it matters

The island's air gateway — Roland-Garros Airport, on its territory, connects Réunion to the world — and a residential and economic hub of the north.