A large number of reefs within the inner granitic islands of the archipelago of Seychelles could be entirely lost, unless concerted action is taken soon to control crown of thorns, warns Dr. Udo Englhardt, the expert on on the management of crown of thorns in a...
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The Domaine de Val des Prés, the craft village, which is located at St Roch Au Cap, 16 km from Victoria. It shows a traditional Creole Village house as a means of promoting the Seychellois Cultural Heritage. The house is centred around the Maison de Planteur, or the house of a plantation owner. The house in Domaine de Val des Près estate Plantation was built around 1870. The gigantic timber house which once belonged to the Bailey family was sold to the government in 1972 for R1,133,348.33.
The plantation house stands on what was once known as the St Roch Estate where coconuts and cinnamon were grown. A cinnamon distillery made essential oil for the export market. It epitomized the typical plantation house that was once common in the tropical islands of the French and British colonies.
The house depicts the various activities that may be found in a traditional estate owners house. Its outside peripherals such as traditional kitchen, servant’s quarter and other amenities pertinent to the colonial era of the 18th – 19th century, showcases traditional Seychellois life in the early days of the history of Seychelles.
Over 10% of visitors to Seychelles visit this estate.
In 1926, Dr John Thomas Bradley (1872-1942) who was then chief medical officer of health in Seychelles gave the house to his daughter Dolly who in 1920 had married Douglas Bailey (1899-1974), who was employed by the Eastern Telegraph Company. He was a wealthy Anglican and fervent supporter of the Anglican Church in Seychelles. He was also a nominated member of the Legislative Council for 28 years. In the 1950s, Douglas Bailey bought the other plantation house, now known as the Creole Institute at Saint Joseph Estate at Au Cap.
This is the last authentic traditional creole homestead in Seychelles. It stands on what was once known as the St Roch Estate. Comprising many acres of land where coconuts and cinnamon were grown. A cinnamon distillery made essential oil for the export market.
The Domaine de Val des Près was inaugurated in October 1988 by former President James Michel who was then Minister. The opening coincided with the 3rd Creole Festival which depicts the Creole people’s way of life, culture, music and gastronomy.
The government of the United States of America agreed to finance the project to create a craft village as a tourist educational and cultural centre. The construction work started in 1985, and it took 4 years to complete. The project included 12 new craft kiosks to host the most important local craft and a restaurant that serves traditional dishes. The new buildings were designed in a style that matches well with the architecture of the Plantation House.
The Plantation house was renovated while retaining all the traditional aspects of the colonial plantation houses such as the pitched roof, the dormer windows and garrets, the wide verandah that encompasses the entire quadrilateral structure of the building, and of course the obligatory masonry plinths on which it rests.
A covered walkway at the back of the house leads to the traditional kitchen. In the kitchen there are the wood stove, the kokosye (the half of coco de mer nut for washing rice before cooking), the lavann (a flat basket of woven pandanus for winnowing the rice), the kapatia (a basket of woven coconut fronds in which fruits and vegetables were kept), and marmit (cooking pot made of cast iron). Anything and everything was cooked in the marmit.
There is a replica of the servant’s dwelling house, which was named lakaz Rosa “Rosa’s house”, built of timber on squat stone pillars. The wooden walls are entirely covered with pages of newspapers and magazines. The dwelling has three compartments: the small living room with the photograph of the Royal family of Windsor, the bedroom and the kitchen.
Some of the antiques that once furnished the sitting room have been preserved; a couple of chairs of artisanal wickerwork, a console table with cabbriole legs, an old bureau and an escritoire.
Pottery, paintings, model boats, and clothing are some of the exhibits in the craft kiosks. The jewel of the village is the Grann Kaz, a beauty showcasing craftsmanship and carpentry with its wooden carved balustrades – a reminiscence of the grand blanc era. In the main house, visitors can see traditional furniture including a Pollack gramophone and an old John Brimsmeade piano.
Frégate Island is in the easternmost of the granitic Inner Islands of the Seychelles, east of Mahé. It has an area of 2.07 square kilometres. It was named by explorer Lazare Picault after the abundance of frigate birds on the island. The island is an hour by ferry or 20 minutes by helicopter from Mahé.
A German industrialist leased Frégate, and started comprehensive restoration measures. In 1998, the island’s only resort opened, which now belongs to the Oetker Collection, undoubtedly one of the finest hotel chains in the world.
A modernisation programme in 2014 improved its sustainability infrastructure with a water bottling plant and state of the art energy generators, and also the renovation of 16 villas. The 200 years of intensive agricultural practices during the plantation era almost completely cleared the native woodland. So, the conservation team are restoring the natural habitat and have replanted over 10,000 indigenous trees including the very rare Wrights Gardenia, as well as the Indian Mulberry.
Seychelles magpie robin which was on the way to extinction was resurrected by the conservation team. Its population increased from 14 in 1980 to 120 in 2016.
The beaches are also the nesting habitat for two species of sea turtle: the critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle and the endangered Green Turtle. Over 2,200 Aldabra giant tortoises are the island.
Fregate Island was closed from the beginning of 2022 for 2 years in order to carry out some critical conservation and upgrading work. The 18 villas in the island are being redesigned to be slightly larger and to be made out of glass, stone and light wood. Partial use of solar energy will minimize fossil fuel energy consumption. A new road system and upgraded building infrastructure will ensure the island operates even more sustainably.
The Conservation & Sustainability department will continue to oversee all aspects of the island’s environment from habitat management, landscaping, bio security, pesticide use and scientific research as well as studies and projects in cooperation with different NGO’s.
The highest point on the island is called Mount Signal which reaches a peak of 125 metres. The Riviére Bambous flows from approximately 300 metres north-east of the mountain where it flows down past the Gros Bois Noire and Plaine Magnan areas of the northern inner island and then acutely northeast until it reaches the Indian Ocean
Seven beautiful beaches provide plenty of opportunities for sun worshiping. Enjoy a stretch of sand all to yourself by simply flipping the “beach occupied” sign at the entrance to the clifftop path.
Anse Victorin beach in the island was voted “The World’s Best Beach” by The Times. Beaches on the north coast include the award-winning Anse Victorin beach, Anse Maquereau and then Anse Bambous. On the western point there are La Cour, the Grand Anse, Petit Grande Anse and the small beach Anse Felix. On the southeastern coast there are the small beaches of Anse Coup de Poing and Anse Parc.
There are two large communal palm-fringed infinity pools. Each villa has its own private infinity pool and Jacuzzi, reached via a wooden staircase.
The island can be privatised for up to 79 guests. There are 2 restaurants, a spa, a yacht club, a library, a Catholic chapel and museum. Transport is by golf buggy, bicycle or foot. Facilities are extensive, including a dive centre, deep sea fishing boat, surfing, kayaking, and a host of other water sports options.
Creole and African cuisine is served up in the main Fregate House restaurant, while barbecues with live entertainment are held regularly in the colonial-style Plantation House. Pirates bar beneath the thatched roof provides a variety of drinks and cocktails.
Special facilities include Marina with yachting club, PADI diving center, scuba diving and certification, fishing equipment, water ski, boat charters as well as massages and treatments at the Rock Spa are available for a fee. The spa treatments might include a lemon and cinnamon immune-boosting scrub, a hydrating coconut and avocado body mask or a soothing scalp massage with hibiscus and holy basil.
Each villa comes with its own golf cart to help you navigate the island. Each night, your vehicle is charged, packed with fresh towels and water bottles, and parked facing the ocean, so all you have to do is hop in. Butler service comes standard here. Your helping hand will be as attentive or elusive as you wish.
About 80 percent of the produce used at the Seychelles hotel is organically grown on the island.
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