Mission Sainte-Anne

Mission Sainte-Anne

The St Anne's Mission has an interesting history and is rather mysterious, as an elaborate Eiffel-designed church stands in the middle of a remote, sparsely populated forest setting overlooking the lagoon. The mission was founded by Father Bichet in the year 1887. Gustave Eiffel designed and built the church in Paris, and it was transported in pieces to St. Anna for construction in 1889. It mixes colors and visual contrasts. The dark rusty color and the church's plain outline, surrounded by green palm trees, are worth a visit, even if only to take a picture. The mission is located off the beaten path on the edge of a lagoon. Visitors approaching by the river get their first glimpse of the mission from the spire that rises above the canopy. Due in part to the isolation of the site, one is immediately struck by the surrounding atmosphere of calm and serenity.