Cinderella's Garden

Situated in the hights of the city of Saint-Denis, the Jardin de Cendrillon is one of the oldest Creole gardens on Reunion Island. A true botanical paradise, this secret garden exudes a thousand scents, a thousand fragrances ...

A Creole garden in Saint-Denis
Cinderella's Garden seems to slide gently towards the Indian Ocean. Its story begins in 1936. At that time, you could admire Saint-Denis from La Montagne, it was a real green carpet. Little by little, modest houses are emerging from the ground on the hill.

Located 430 meters above sea level, the La Montagne district is transformed into a place of "change of air" and seduces Emile and Ida Macé, Odette's parents, who buy a very steep half hectare plot of land.

It is covered with large blocks of lava, chocas, casuarinas and grasses. The three-story house under a sloping tamarind shingle roof is bordered by a gallery to view the stars. There is no water or electricity, but it is paradise.

Cinderella? “It was my father who gave him his name. We always gave it to the houses. " Mistreated by successive cyclones, the property gradually deteriorated and ended up being abandoned. Odette married Valère Roche and they settled in La Montagne in 1952.

They rebuild a more modest house and create a precious garden welcoming plants from all walks of life, a veritable Creole garden where colors and scents compete in sensuality.

For more than gardens in Reunion consult our interactive map.