Saint-Denis | ||
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Prefecture and commune | ||
Panoramic view of the city from the heights of Bellepierre
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Coordinates: 20°52′44″S 55°26′53″E / 20.8789°S 55.4481°ECoordinates: 20°52′44″S 55°26′53″E / 20.8789°S 55.4481°E | ||
Country | France | |
Overseas region and department | Réunion | |
Arrondissement | Saint-Denis | |
Canton | 4 cantons | |
Intercommunality | Nord de la Réunion | |
Government | ||
• Mayor (2014-2020) | Gilbert Annette (PS) | |
Area1 | 142.79 km2 (55.13 sq mi) | |
Population (2012)2 | 145,238 | |
• Density | 1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi) | |
INSEE/Postal code | 97411 /97400 | |
Elevation | 0–2,276 m (0–7,467 ft) (avg. 23 m or 75 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Saint-Denis (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃.də.ni], or unofficially Saint-Denis de la Réunion for disambiguation) is the préfecture (administrative capital) of the French overseas region and department of Réunion, in the Indian Ocean. It is located at the island's northernmost point, close to the mouth of the Rivière Saint-Denis.
Saint-Denis is the most populous commune in the French overseas departments. At the 1999 census, there were 158,139 inhabitants in the urban area of Saint-Denis, 131,557 of whom lived in the city (commune) of Saint-Denis proper and the remainder in the neighbouring commune of Sainte-Marie.
Saint-Denis was founded by Étienne Regnault in 1669 and became the capital of Réunion island in 1738.
The town has many neighbourhoods : Le Barachois, Bellepierre, Bois-de-Nèfles, La Bretagne (Le Cerf), Le Brûlé, Les Camélias, Centre-ville, Champ-Fleuri, La Montagne(Le Colorado, Ruisseau Blanc, Saint-Bernard), Montgaillard, La Providence, La Rivière Saint-Denis (La Redoute), Ruisseau des Noirs, Saint-François, Saint-Jacques, Sainte-Clotilde (Le Butor, le Chaudron, Commune Prima, Domenjod, Le Moufia), La Source, La Trinité, Vauban
The closest airport is Roland Garros Airport which is also the main international airport of Réunion.
The hotels in Saint-Denis include Mercure Creolia Hotel, Austral Hotel and Best Western.