Anse aux Pins: Church History and Architectural Heritage

Anse aux Pins combines an unusual church history with traditional architectural heritage. In 1853, the first St Michael Church was a temporary beach shelter made of Latanier leaves, with a cross, named by Father Leon des Avanchers. The contrast between this beginning and the traditional houses and smaller Kaz Kreol gives the place a distinct cultural and historical focus.

A Church History in Two Building Phases

The next chapter dates to 1862: a storm destroyed the first chapel, after which a second one was built from coral. The history therefore comprises two successive structures: first the temporary beach shelter made of Latanier leaves, followed by the coral chapel. The change in materials and building phases makes the chronology easy to picture and understand, even without specialist architectural knowledge.

Traditional Architecture and Sirandanes

The architectural heritage of Anse aux Pins includes traditional houses and smaller Kaz Kreol. They add another perspective to the church history: while the church chronology provides a sequence of events, the houses and Kaz Kreol bring different architectural forms to the fore. If you are interested in local history, it is worth considering these two perspectives together.

An editorial description reports that Penda Choppy at Lenstiti Kreol occasionally accompanies visitors to books, paintings and old lithographs, and explains traditional Sirandanes, the riddles of the islands in the Indian Ocean. Ask in advance whether this encounter is available during your stay.

A Cultural Focus for Choosing Where to Stay

This cultural focus may help you decide when looking for a holiday apartment. If you would like to make architectural history and traditional forms a deliberate part of your travel plans, Anse aux Pins is one of the places you can assess based on these interests.

Within the Wider Destination of the Seychelles

Within the wider destination of the Seychelles, access varies: the Seychelles Marine Parks can be reached by boat; Port-Launay can also be reached on foot. This comparison helps you assess natural sites not only by their features, but also by how they can be reached.

On Curieuse, a raised boardwalk runs through the swamp and provides access to the mangrove habitat even at high tide. The mangrove swamp borders Baie Laraie. The island's history is also shaped by its past use: Curieuse served for almost a hundred years as a quarantine site for people with leprosy. Here, a specific route through a mangrove environment sits alongside a long history.

On Praslin, the National Park has several short paths; Glacis Noire is the only official trail. The park is home to endemic and native plants, as well as various insects and other animals, including the Black Parrot, found only on Praslin and the surrounding islets. Also on Praslin is the 19.5-hectare Vallée de Mai, one of the world's smallest natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This creates a thematic comparison when choosing where to stay: here, Anse aux Pins represents local and architectural history, while the examples on Curieuse and Praslin represent mangroves, trails and wildlife.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Outer Islands, Roche Caïman, Beau Vallon, Bel Ombre, Takamaka, Pointe La Rue, Anse Boileau, Mont Fleuri.

Go to the main travel overview: Seychelles.