Hell-Bourg

Member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

Hot springs found in the 1830s turned this spot in Réunion's Cirque de Salazie into a fashionable spa, where wealthy coastal families built Creole villas with carved lambrequins and shady verandas. A cyclone landslide buried the baths in 1948, and the village's decline kept those houses intact. Today it is a base for hikes to the Piton d'Anchaing and the Piton des Neiges.

Highlights

Villa Folio, an 1860 Creole house listed as a historic monument
The flower-filled cemetery, opened in 1864 and ringed by bamboo
Ruins of the old thermal baths
Museum of music and instruments of the Indian Ocean in the Maison Morange
Hikes to the Piton d'Anchaing and up the Piton des Neiges

Summary based on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), written with AI assistance.

Things to see

Specialities of Réunion

Typical of the region rather than of this village.

CariDishLocal curry on a base of onion, garlic and turmeric, served with rice
Rougail saucisses (FR)DishPork sausages with tomatoes, onions, spices and chilli
AchardsDishSpiced pickled vegetables served with rice and the main dish
Lentils of Cilaos (FR)Local produce
Rhum arrangé (FR)DrinkWhite rum macerated with fruit, leaves and seeds
Cilaos wine (FR)Wine