Church of St. Anne

The Church of Sainte-Anne, a treasure of Reunion's heritage

The Church of Sainte-Anne is located East of the island Of the reunion. Listed as a historic monument since 1982, the Catholic Church in the small village of Sainte-Anne was built in 6 years during the second half of the 19th century thanks to Monsignor Desprez and Abbé Cornet.

In 1922, under the influence of Father Georges Daubenberger, a Strasbourg priest, the building took on a resolutely Baroque style, with moldings, gargoyles and cherubs' heads. He also added an annex chapel in homage to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, canonized in 1925 by Pius XI.

With the help of the “Congregation of the Daughters of Mary”, which brings together young women and children participating in catechism, and volunteers from the village, the Church of Sainte-Anne has gradually changed. The moldings worked with a knife and the paintings deposited by hand make it a unique place of worship where the architecture is associated with the colors of Reunion.

The Church of St. Anne is considered one of the most beautiful monuments of the intense island. If you want to see it for yourself, guided tours are organized throughout the year. Lasting 45 minutes, you will have the opportunity to hear the story of this sacred place.

Beneath its angelic airs, the Church of St. Anne is a star as it served as the setting for the filming of the film “The Mississippi Mermaid”. In François Truffaut's fictionalized thriller from 1969, she appears in the wedding scene to unite actress Catherine Deneuve and actor Jean-Paul Belmondo at her altar.

The Church of Sainte-Anne is a monument not to be missed during your visit to eastern Réunion

For more than visits to Reunion consult our interactive map of Réunion.