Wallis and Futuna Islands

Quick Facts

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Capital

Matāʻutu

Population

16,000

Government

Overseas territory of France

Religions

Christianity (Catholic)

Languages

French, Wallisian, East Futuna

Calling Code

+681

Nationality

Local name

Wallis et Futuna

Introduction

Wallis and Futuna are located due north of Fiji, where they are occasionally frequented by visitors, regularly abandoned by locals in search of jobs and peppered with a generous offering of French food and champagne. You could call it a slice of France in the Pacific if French Polynesia hadn't taken the title already. It's the second - the forgotten - slice, one of typical Pacific beauty and aquatic pleasures.

The first missionary to Futuna, one Pierre Chanel, was martyred four years into his evangelical run. His work was done though: the first Oceanian nation to martyer a missionary has transformed into a devoutly religious entity where church buildings spring up like palm trees. These beautiful churches provide for one of the highlights of travel to Wallis and Futuna.

Islands

The Wallis and Futuna Islands are split into two groups lying about 260 km apart.

• Wallis Island (Uvea) in the north
• Hoorn Islands (Futuna Islands), in the south consisting of the islands of Futuna and Alofi.

Towns

• Matāʻutu
• Leava
• Mala'e

Sights and Activiites

• Mata-Utu Cathedral on Wallis Island, is a Roman Catholic cathedral built with blocks of cut coral. It is a French national monument.
• The King's Palace on Wallis Island
• Talietumu, the remains of a fortified Tongan settlement on Wallis Island established around 1450.
• Tonga Toto, another set of ruins on Wallis Island which are harder to get to and more overgrown.
• Lake Lalolalo, an impressive circular lake with with sheer walls on Wallis Island

Getting there

Plane

The main international airport is on the island of Wallis. There are flights from here to both French Polynesia and New Caledonia with Aircalin, the national carrier of the latter country.