The Gambier Islands

The Gambier Islands offer visitors a unique blend of natural beauty and historical significance. The many pearl farms and numerous churches dating back to missionary times are the principal attractions. While there are marae and other remnants of ancient Polynesian civilisation in Mangareva, the island is famed for its religious heritage from the 19th century. It is often said that “faith can move mountains“, but in Mangareva, it moved tons of coral to construct the multiple religious buildings. Between 1840 and 1970, missionaries, aided by newly converted islanders, built hundreds of religious structures, including churches, rectories, convents, schools, and watchtowers. Many of these can still be visited in Mangareva, Akamaru, Aukena, and Taravai, with some exceptionally well-preserved, such as Saint Michel’s Cathedral in Rikitea. Constructed from coral blocks in 1848, it stands as the largest and oldest religious monument in The Islands of Tahiti, featuring a magnificent altar adorned with pearls and mother-of-pearl.

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