The Entre-Deux: The largest islet of the world!
The Entre-Deux is an area of 6683 hectares a large part consists of mountains and foothills which is a massive imposing: the Dimitile. It extends from 100 to over 2000 meters above sea level, surrounded by two rivers: the Bras de la Plaine east and arm Cilaos west.
In Entre-Deux, the show is at the top! The Dimitile is a walker's paradise! This exceptional site, culminating at 1800 m, a paradise for hikers, offering a breathtaking panorama of the Cilaos, Piton des Neiges, the high plains and the south coast. It is also home to unique ecosystems rich but still fragile, and sensitive natural area that is integrated into the heart of the Parc National des Hauts Reunion party.
The average annual temperatures not exceeding 24 ° C in summer, not dropping below 10 ° C during the austral winter (at the top of Dimitile 1800 m) the climate is pleasant and Entre-Deux is undoubtedly a community where life is good.
Long isolated on a spur, the Entre-Deux is populated later.
In 1724 Joseph Lauret, and in 1727 Jean Hoarau, get concessions on this islet "without culture between the two arms of the ravine St Etienne" to grow the coffee plant from Mocha have been introduced since 1715 in Bourbon.
The concessions are long Entre-Deux badly exploited and uninhabited except perhaps for slaves fleeing their condition chestnuts.
A society that can be described as parallel is organized under the authority of chiefs as "Dimitil" mentioned in a deed of 1743 as "a particularly dangerous brown."
Dimitil, the watchman (mg) has disappeared but its history and its name is needed more than ever in memory and always amazed eyes of the inhabitants of the town.
In 1853, Vital Hoarau writing to the Director of the Interior: "The Entre-Deux [...] is now quite large its population rises from 1300 to 1500 individuals to be quite independent I just [. ...] ask you [...] us to build in town. " This demand is futile.
It was only after tough negotiations with the town of Saint Pierre on which it depends, then, that Entre-Deux, under the leadership of Cornelius Hoarau, officially became common in 1882.
From the 1900s, the decline in the vanilla and coffee linked to major climatic events and diseases that devastate the main crops led to the gradual decline of the economy. The tray Dimitile, cultivated him, geranium is finally abandoned.
Many decades later, a revival begins and the development of market gardening gives new life to this small town in rural vocation.
Today the town thrives through tourism, and is intended to make this town a must see destination high in the South.
An architectural and culinary heritage preserved!
The village of the rural Creole huts and a seductive road, in their simplicity, are the symbol of the architectural heritage of the Entre-Deux. It is love and passion, as much as the men who built these traditional dwellings. Perfection seems to be attained, down to the smallest detail. The gardens of colors often overflow the fences like to greet the walker and when the garden becomes orchard, it is the whole village that dresses in the colors lychee, tangerine, orange, mango. From walks in strolls, here the soul of the village is discovered along the streets.
The circuit of the Creole huts: Direction the heart of the village where each household reserves its lot of explanations and stories. A loop in the city center lasting 1h30 will familiarize you with the Creole hut. The subjects tackled, the adaptation to the climate, the techniques of construction, the materials used as well as the decoration!
Do not hesitate to taste the flavor of the dishes prepared by the ancients of the Entre-Deux. Choca smoked, carriage paw pig or even daube brèdes chouchou decorated with tomato poc-poc... Enjoy, you are at the Entre-Deux!
The Entre-Deux has a craftsmanship of art, composed of multiple traditional know-how, from the past. Crafts are based on many local resources: Choca (Agave), stones, coffee. Jean-Marie transpires under the effort and under the action of its simple hammer and its chisel, the stone takes shape. He is not alone in perpetuating a forgotten trade. At the turning of an alley, needles still sew slippers. They are made of shock wire. This agave grows all over the island, but only the women of the Ravine of the Lemons knew how to exploit it in shoemaking. However, these activities being discrete, it is advisable to book for a visit. These women and men are craftsmen of memory. And, when the walker lingers, their work and their words carry you to another era, once upon a time... the Entre-Deux.
The marron camp, a cultural museum area: Accessible by a forest trail of about 10 kilometers or by trails such as La Chapelle, Le Zèbre, La Grande Jument, the Association Capitaine Dimitile will meet you on the Plateau du Guetteur, Natural Area Sensitive to discover a period of the history of the island, long remained without echo. The "black-chestnuts" claim their history, in silence, everything is said, everything is written! On a guided or free tour, learn the history of the ancestors of the island, the slaves, through the Museum Cultural Space (exhibition boards on slavery and marooning, reconstituted chestnut camp).
The Entre-Deux also revives its past by restoring a family bread oven recently rehabilitated by the association Entre Deux Z'Epok. It is now possible for you to plunge back into this culinary dimension of the past! Around the preparation of your bread and a delicious Creole meal with the flavors of yesteryear you will share a convivial and authentic moment of which you will keep a memorable memory!
Two discovery circuits of one and a half hours, to get closer to Mother Nature, understand her and protect her! At the Verger de la Chapelle, Laurent will explain the reason for the presence of straw under litchis, he will reveal the principle of the various insect traps, which allow to limit the use of insecticides, it will demonstrate the usefulness of the compost In limiting the use of inputs, in a few words tricks and tricks for sustainable agriculture, sustainable development and healthy eating. Beekeeping in Reunion Island: At the Verger de la Chapelle, you will be able to discover the unpublished "Bourbon hives" that house the bee colonies, veritable sentinels of the environment, which produce a succulent honey litchi and honey of pink berries, With exceptional flavors.
The sport is practiced in nature! The Entre-Deux commune, known as the "Station Verte de Vacances", will delight parents and children with the sports facilities available to them during their stay: a heated municipal swimming pool, two football pitches, two tennis courts, a skate park, A track for athletics, a paragliding area on the site of Dimitile are at your disposal to fully enjoy your holidays.
Public and private gardens and trails that cross the Entre-Deux, will allow you to enjoy the quiet of the village! Breathe in, exhale, the air is so fresh and the nature generous. From the village you have access to several itineraries: Sassa-Cressonnière Basin, Sentier Cheval, Sentier Coteau Sec, Sentier le Bord, Sentier Rosélie are the picturesque and pleasant itineraries (with an average duration of 1h15) Stroll along the paths to listen to nature or walk in the footsteps of the first inhabitants of the commune who once borrowed them daily. For the more courageous, hiking trails crisscross the Dimitile, the green lung of the commune.
