Travel Guide

Seychelles History in Brief

The first reliable record of the Seychelles, made by Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, dates from the 16th century. In 1609, the British were first to documented the exploration of Seychelles. As they did not settle in the islands, Seychelles was left as a base for pirates and seafarers.

In the 18th century the French discovered the Seychelles and took possession of the islands in 1742. In 1756, the Seychelles received its name after the present Controller General of Finance of France at the time. French settlers arrived in 1770, but found themselves under British occupancy in 1811, after the latter had won a battle with the French. In 1814, Seychelles officially became a British colony under the Treaty of Paris.

In 1835, slavery was abolished and later in 1853, the Roman Catholic Church was established. Both events were of significant nature and had a major impact on the way Seychelles was to be shaped.In 1903, Seychelles became a crown colony, and in 1976 it gained full independence as a Republic state. On 5 June 1977, there was a coup d’état led by Albert René which became known as the Liberation Day.

On March 1979, a constitution allowing a one party state was established, and multiple political parties were legalized in January 1992. The voters approved of the new constitution in a referendum on June 1993.

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1. St. Anne SeychellesSt. Anne Island is the largest of the six islands that make up the St. Anne National Marine Park and is situated in front of Victoria harbour. St. Anne was the site of the first settlement in Seychelles some 220...
2. People of SeychellesThere has never been an indigenous, or truly native or aboriginal inhabitant of the Seychelles. The ethnic makeup of the Seychellois people is creole, descended mainly from French colonizers and their African slaves that first settled in the islands in...
3. Silhouette Island SeychellesSilhouette Island Silhouette is an island covered with lush equatorial forests waiting to be explored by hikers and nature lovers. Situated only 19 kilometers west of Mahe, this island had maintained its purity due to the difficulty of landing there...
4. Denis Island SeychellesDenis Island Denis, an island in the grand tradition of Hemingway and his tale of “The Old Man and The Sea” Denis Island, situated right on the edge of the Seychelles Bank and located 50 miles north, north-east of Mahe...
5. Language of Seychelles IslandsThe vocabulary of the Seychellois- Creole language is based on 18th century French roots, mingled with Kaffir, Malagasy, Bantu, and Indian elements.  It is definitely more than just pidgin French, but a language in its own right.  It is an...
6. Religion Seychelles IslandsSeychelles Islands The predominant religion of the islands is Catholicism, mainly as a result of the influence of the first French settlers.  The British established the Anglican church, primarily on the island of Mahe, the main island and the seat...
7. Seychelles Bird StampsIsland of Seychelles Bird Stamps collected over time ...
8. Seychelles Entertainment and NightlifeEntertainment and Nightlife The major hotels on Mahe have cabaret or disco facilities.  The Berjaya Mahe Beach Resort at Port Glaud (tel. 378451) and the near distant Equator Grand Anse Hotel (tel. 378228) are ideal for disco dancing with fellow...