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Origin and history

The Saint-Martin church of Grand Îlet is a Catholic church located in the natural circus of Salazie, on the island of La Réunion. Built in the first half of the 20th century, it replaces two earlier buildings: a first wooden church erected in 1873, which became too small, and a second, also made of wood, destroyed by cyclones in 1932 and 1935. The present church, rebuilt in 1936 with the materials of the previous building, has been listed at the Historic Monuments since 19 December 1982 for its emblematic character.

The stained glass windows of the church, made by Réunion master glassmaker Guy Lefèvre, represent Saint Martin and Saint Louis-Marie Grignon de Monfort, accompanied by an abstract rosace above the entrance. These artistic elements, combined with its traditional wooden architecture, make this church one of the last examples of this type of construction in Réunion. The building underwent restorations after the 1994 cyclone, demonstrating its vulnerability to tropical weather.

The Saint-Martin church is located in the village of Grand Îlet, an island of the Hauts de La Réunion, and is the most remarkable monument of this hamlet. His hic inscription is domus dei (here is the house of God) recalls his religious and community vocation. Owned by the municipality of Salazie, it embodies the cultural and spiritual heritage of this French overseas region.

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