This cave is a symbolic site in Réunion’s colonial history. Located near the Saint-Paul Bay, La Grotte des Premiers Français is where the first French settlers are believed to have lived around 1663, carving out a survival in what was then an uninhabited island. The cave itself is small and unassuming, but the surrounding park and signage give it context.

There’s not a lot to see, physically — just a hollow in the cliffside and a few memorial plaques — but the weight of what it represents is what draws people in. If you're interested in the early colonial period or just want a quiet, shady stop with some historical depth, it’s worth pulling over for.

👉 Pair it with a walk around the nearby bay or Cimetière Marin. Both sites tie together the early history of Saint-Paul.