Heritage classified

Origin and history

Sainte-Anne de Sainte-Anne Church is a religious monument located in the municipality of Saint-Benoît, on the island of La Réunion. Although his name evokes a dedication to Saint Anne, patron saint of the Bretons and major figure of Christianity, the available sources do not specify its date of foundation or the circumstances of its construction. Its name could reflect the influence of the Breton or Malagasy settlers, who marked the history of the island from the seventeenth century.

The churches in La Réunion, like that of Sainte-Anne, have often played a central role in community life, serving as places of worship, gathering and social cohesion. In Saint-Benoît, a city marked by agricultural history and cultural diversity, these religious buildings were spiritual and architectural landmarks for a population largely derived from colonization and slavery, and then from engagism.