Coast, Faith and Learning in Anse Etoile
Anse Etoile can be explored through three specific points of reference: its location along Mahé’s eastern coastline, a religious tradition and an educational project at the North East Point wetland. The Anse Etoile district encompasses the final four-kilometre stretch of Mahé’s eastern coastline. This precise extent provides a clear scale for understanding the geography; at the same time, the other themes lead from the coastal setting to religious history and environmental education.
On 29 April 1962, Bishop Maradan consecrated the new church in Anse Etoile. The consecration provides a fixed historical reference point. There is also devotion to Our Lady of Health: pilgrims come to Anse Etoile to pray to her, and this devotion was introduced by the Indian community. Two perspectives therefore stand side by side: the consecration as a dated event and pilgrimage as a religious tradition. This contrast gives visitors interested in culture a concrete way to engage with the history of the place.
At the North East Point wetland, Anse Etoile Primary School opened an outdoor learning area in April 2025. At the opening, information boards were unveiled to serve as learning resources for people exploring the area. The project combines exploration with learning: the boards have an educational purpose, and the outdoor learning area makes learning in the wetland environment a focus. The information boards are intended as learning resources for people exploring the area. For those interested in nature, this offers a different perspective from simply viewing a landscape.
More facets of the Seychelles
Across the wider destination of the Seychelles, nature destinations also differ in how they can be reached: the marine parks of the Seychelles are accessible by boat, while Port-Launay can also be reached on foot. This offers a practical comparison when choosing where to go: a boat-accessible destination versus one that can be reached on foot. On Curieuse, a mangrove swamp borders Baie Laraie; a raised boardwalk leads through the swamp, allowing access to the mangrove habitat even at high tide. Curieuse also served as a quarantine site for people with leprosy for almost a hundred years. The island brings together landscape, visitor route and history.
On La Digue, the Veuve Special Reserve covers 21 hectares and forms part of a 200-hectare plateau on the western side of the island. In the reserve, staff answer questions and help visitors find the birds. On Praslin, the Vallée de Mai covers 19.5 hectares and is one of the smallest natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. At 19.5 hectares, it is slightly smaller than the Veuve Special Reserve; the two areas are on different islands. This provides a comparison of their size, while the Vallée de Mai is also distinguished by its UNESCO status.
Discover more destinations: La Gogue, De Quincy, Takamaka, Anse Royale, English River, Les Mamelles, Grand Anse Praslin, Anse Boileau
Go to the main travel overview: Seychelles.
