萨拉济冰斗位于留尼汪岛中北部,面积约103平方公里,是岛上三大冰斗中交通最便利、植被最茂密的一个。这里常年受贸易风带来的雨水滋润,悬崖峭壁上分布着数以百计的瀑布,其中最为壮观的新娘面纱瀑布落差巨大。作为2010年被联合国教科文组织列入世界遗产名录的组成部分,这里不仅是自然奇观,更是克里奥尔文化的中心,核心区域的地狱堡村曾在1998年被评为法国最美村庄,也是法国海外领地中唯一获此殊荣的村落。
自驾进入萨拉济冰斗的体验从省道D48开始。这条路顺着马特河顺流而上,两旁山体几乎垂直。开出不久就能在右手边看到新娘面纱瀑布(Voile de la Mariée)。说真的,与其说它是一个瀑布,不如说是一排从山顶倾泻而下的银色丝带。每逢雨季过后,水量充沛时的视觉冲击力非常强。路边设有专门的观景台,由于山路狭窄,大家千万别随便在弯道停车拍照。如果想近距离接触,可以从村庄出发走一段大约1.5公里的步行道,直接进到瀑布下方的水潭附近,感受那种水气扑面的清凉。需要提醒的是,这里的年降水量常年维持在3000毫米以上,即便在旱季也经常有阵雨,随身带一件轻便的雨衣非常有必要。
如果想要看清100多平方公里冰斗的全貌,前往白领地(Belvédère de l'Entrée)是最高效的选择。这个观景点位于进入萨拉济的必经之路上,可以一眼望尽远处层叠的山脉和被云雾缠绕的村落。这里不收任何门票,全天候开放。清晨八点左右是光线最好的时候,这时云雾通常还没升起来,拍照的通透度极高。到了下午两三点,山间往往会被浓雾覆盖,那时候看到的景色就大打折扣了。
地狱堡(Hell-Bourg)虽然名字听起来有些吓人,实际上却是一座海拔约930米的静谧小镇。这里保留了大量19世纪风格的克里奥尔庄园,色彩斑斓的木质外墙、精致的蕾丝边屋檐装饰是这里的标志。整个村子很小,步行一圈也就不到一小时,但每一家的小花园都修剪得非常漂亮。这里曾经是著名的温泉疗养胜地,直到1948年一场飓风摧毁了温泉水源,小镇才逐渐从繁华归于平静。现在这里生活着大约1000名居民,保留着非常传统的生活节奏,那种安逸感是留尼汪沿海城镇体会不到的。
来到地狱堡一定要去佛里奥之家(Maison Folio)转转。这座典型的克里奥尔庭院至今仍由私人家族打理,入内参观大约需要花费6欧元左右。导游会给游客讲解那些看似杂乱无章的植物其实都有讲究,比如哪种是用来防风的,哪种是药用的。园子里那些精巧的喷泉和凉亭展示了当年温泉小镇鼎盛时期的富庶。虽然内部房间并不完全开放,但在花园里待上半小时就能感受到浓郁的法式浪漫与热带风情的结合。建议大家出发前查看官网或者当地导览板,通常这里下午会有一段时间的闭园。
去萨拉济冰斗,圣安德烈(Saint-André)是关键的中转站。如果选择公共交通,可以乘坐60路公交车,每天有多班车往返于圣安德烈和地狱堡之间,单程票价通常不到2欧元。不过由于山路弯道多,晕车的朋友得提前做好准备。自驾是最推荐的方式,从圣安德烈出发大约40分钟就能到达地狱堡,路况总体不错,但车道偏窄,遇到对面大车会车时需要放慢速度。到了地狱堡,村口有免费的停车场,位置比较充沛,停好车后步行游览是最惬意的。
萨拉济被当地人称为佛手瓜(Chouchou)的王国。这种植物在冰斗湿润的气候下疯长,产量极高。在村里的餐馆,你会发现从佛手瓜炒肉到佛手瓜甜点,甚至佛手瓜嫩茎(Cœur de chouchou)都能做成菜。味道有点像西葫芦但更清脆一些。一份包含米饭、豆子和克里奥尔咖喱的传统套餐大约在15到20欧元之间。如果是在周末去,村里还会有集市,可以买到当地人编织的佛手瓜藤工艺品,这种传统手艺在别处已经很难见到了。
进入萨拉济冰斗区域、地狱堡村以及观看新娘面纱瀑布都是完全免费的。只有部分像佛里奥之家这样的私人历史建筑参观需要支付约6欧元的入场费。冰斗内的公共停车场大部分也是免费开放的。
通往地狱堡的D48公路铺设平整,但有超过50个急转弯和几段狭窄的单车道路段。新手司机在遇到下雨天或大雾时需要格外小心,建议避开晚上行车,因为山路没有路灯且经常有落石风险。由于坡度较大,手动挡车型对离合器的控制有一定的要求。
每年的5月到11月是留尼汪的旱季,也是萨拉济的最佳旅行时机。虽然这时候瀑布水量可能不如雨季壮观,但胜在天气晴朗,徒步路径不湿滑,且地狱堡村的可见度更高。如果选择12月到次年3月的雨季前往,由于萨拉济是留尼汪降雨最集中的区域,经常会遇到山路塌方导致交通中断的情况。
从首府圣丹尼斯开车到地狱堡大约需要1小时15分钟,安排一日游完全来得及。早晨八点出发,上午看瀑布和白领地观景台,中午在地狱堡吃佛手瓜大餐,下午逛逛佛里奥之家,下午四点左右返程可以避开晚高峰。如果想尝试去大沙(Grand Sable)的徒步路线,则建议在村里住上一晚。
Clélia Baudoin (CleliaBaudoin_) Very pretty cirque, and probably the most easily accessible of the three by road. The landscapes are diverse and varied, and it feels a bit like a jungle sometimes with the lush vegetation and waterfalls here and there. If you plan to spend the day there, leave early in the morning to catch the sunrise over the mountains. Possibility of parking almost everywhere, notably in Hell-Bourg which is a very cute and colorful village nestled in the heart of the circus.
Laurent The Salazie cirque is truly impressive with its relief but also with its lush vegetation and the dozens of waterfalls that fall from the ramparts. It is quite populated with picturesque villages, such as Hell-Bourg (classified among the “most beautiful villages in France”), and allows dozens of walks (with quite a bit of elevation change!). Who says lush vegetation means a lot of rain... To be taken into account when planning excursions (bring rain gear and good shoes that are not afraid of mud). As is often the case at the meeting, we are more likely to have good weather early in the morning. Although improving, some roads are narrow and have a series of hairpins. Allow a good hour by car to get from Hell-bourg to the Col des Bœufs car park. I don't regret spending a few days in the circus during my tour.
64 VINCE An extraordinary experience that a walk in the Salazie cirque, wild and penetrating vegetation of majestic waterfalls by the dozen, its typical houses and the picturesque village of Salazie are a feast for the eyes and the scents
Mel Klos Another crazy road to the cirque and lookout, but hey, that's what makes Reunion... Reunion. There was major confusion amongst us English speaking folk. When we reached the "town" we didn't know if we were in HellBourg or Salazie - I kid you not. Turns out you first drive through Salazie with the church, fountain and hotel and then on to a point where you go to either the lookout or HellBourg. Obviously do both. Yes, Hellbourg is pretty, but I think Entre-Deux can give it a run for its money and it's only a hop, skip and jump out of Saint Pierre. The Music Museum was very interesting in that the "handy" they gave you didn't give you commentry on the instruments you were looking at. For info there were some info boards and interactive displays. Instead, it played the sound of the particular instrument. Very clever, imho.
Christine Kisch Beautiful absolutely visited