Anse Boileau on Mahé: Bay and History

On Mahé’s west coast, Anse Boileau combines a long, curving bay with a layered church history. It is also the starting point of the island-crossing Chemin Montagne, which begins at Anse Boileau Beach. If you are looking for a hotel in Anse Boileau, these different themes can help you organise your thoughts about the destination: Would you primarily like to get to know the coastal area, include a route in your plans, or explore the history of its churches and chapels?

The bay, fishing and beach conditions

The Bay of Anse Boileau stretches along Mahé’s west coast in a long, curving shape. Visitors to the bay can get a glimpse of the everyday lives of Seychellois fishers. Windsurfers can occasionally be seen on the calm sea. Fishing and windsurfing offer different impressions of the water: one provides a glimpse of everyday life, while the other can sometimes be seen in the bay.

The conditions described are also important when planning a beach visit. There may be seagrass on the beach from June to September; at high tide, the beach may temporarily disappear. It is therefore worth planning your visit with the season and tides in mind. There are several parking areas beside the beach. As availability can change, it is best to check the parking situation before setting out.

A route and a specific connection to the water

Chemin Montagne is an island-crossing route that begins at Anse Boileau Beach. Its starting point thus connects the bay with a route plan that extends beyond this stretch of coast. If you plan to follow the route, check the current conditions before setting out. This keeps the route a distinct focus of your trip planning rather than conflating it with what you might observe at the beach.

Kayaking is also among the described experiences on the water, but it is specifically linked to an accommodation: guests of Auberge Chez Plume can use the kayaks available there on the waters of Anse Boileau, opposite the entrance to the property. Use is therefore limited to guests of this establishment. This is a specific connection to an accommodation, whereas the bay itself is characterised primarily by its shape, fishing and the occasional sight of windsurfers.

Churches, a chapel and historical dates

The history of Notre Dame de Sept Douleurs includes several clearly distinct stages. The first church, built of coral stone, was dedicated under this name on 30 June 1868. On 28 February 1882, Father Martin Vinzier had the Calvary Cross erected in front of the church, near the sea. The later church was built in 1907 under Father Gabriel-Marie Zegler; its cornerstone was blessed on 19 September 1909. The dedication of the first church and the construction and cornerstone blessing of the later church thus mark different points in time.

Other historical details concern the parish and La Salette. Father Callixte Cachon (1841–1907) arrived in Anse Boileau in 1884 and considered his parish an ideal place to dedicate a shrine to Our Lady of La Salette. In 1925, Father Ernest Joye had the La Salette Chapel built in the parish of Anse Boileau. The parish celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows every year on 15 September. Together, these dates provide a point of reference if you would like to understand local history not only through a building, but also through people, a dedication and an annual celebration.

The landscape at district level

The Anse Boileau district also helps put the area in context: it lies on Mahé’s west coast between Baie Lazare to the south and Grand Anse to the north. Its coastal plains extend north towards the lowlands of Barbarons and Bon Espoir Estate, and west towards the mountainous forest region of Burlee. Endemic palm species grow in this forest area. These landscape details relate to the district and complement the more specific perspective of the bay, the beach and the route that starts there.

Choose the location according to which of these aspects matter for your stay; for beach visits and the route, it is worth checking the relevant conditions in advance.

For the broader travel overview: Anse Boileau.