Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island is the natural choice on this map, and it should not be confused with a cultural monument or a designed garden. The property coincides with the core zone of La Réunion National Park and covers more than 100,000 hectares, or 40 percent of the island. Its two adjoining volcanic massifs contain two towering peaks, three cliff-rimmed cirques, steep remparts, forested gorges and basins.

The exact reason this place belongs is the combination of dramatic geological form and biological value. The dormant Piton des Neiges and highly active Piton de la Fournaise stand within a landscape shaped by volcanism, tectonic landslides, heavy rainfall and stream erosion. Subtropical rainforests, cloud forests and heaths create a mosaic of ecosystems, while the property protects important remaining natural habitats of the Mascarene Islands and a high level of plant endemism. That makes its management concerns different from those of Versailles or Paris: invasive alien species are a continuing threat, and activities such as agriculture, forestry, energy production and tourism must be managed consistently with the property’s integrity. The National Park provides the legal protection framework, supported by monitoring, research and consultation.