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Origin and history

The mausoleums of La Redoute are two obelisks erected on the island of La Réunion, in the district of La Redoute in Saint-Denis. They commemorate the 1810 clashes between British troops and Creole forces during the capture of Bonaparte Island. These monuments, inspired by ancient architecture, symbolize the memory of soldiers from both sides who died in battle. The first obelisk, erected by the English in 1810, was initially located in the La Redoute plain before being moved around 1963. The second, built by the French in 1857, dominates a hill once occupied by a defence battery.

The site has been classified as an additional inventory of Historic Monuments since April 3, 2007. These obelisks recall a key episode in La Réunion's colonial history, marked by Franco-British rivalries at the beginning of the 19th century. Their sober architecture and strategic location make them silent witnesses to this troubled period.

The English mausoleum, moved in the 1960s, and the French mausoleum, located on an esplanade, offer a complementary reading of this historic event. Their preservation allows to transmit the memory of the cipayes and Creole soldiers who fell during this unique battle on Réunion soil.

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