Mont Buxton: Landscape and History

Mont Buxton combines its location as a suburb of Victoria with the ridges of Creve Coeur and visible traces of local history. If you are looking for hotels in Mont Buxton, these features help you get a sense of the destination: the landscape, a historical namesake and Creole houses each offer a different perspective on the place.

Location and landscape

Mont Buxton lies west of Victoria and is a suburb of the capital. Union Vale borders it to the north and Belonie to the south. These north-south neighbors add two specific reference points to its location west of the capital. Inland, the terrain rises to the steep ridges of Creve Coeur, which are 386 meters high. On the western side of Mahé, the ridges descend near Beau Vallon. Victoria situates Mont Buxton as a suburb, while the mountain ridges and their descent near Beau Vallon describe the island’s terrain.

Place name and history

Mont Buxton is named after St Thomas Fowell Buxton (1786–1845), an English brewer and social reformer. As a member of the House of Commons, he campaigned in 1833 for the abolition of slavery in all British colonies. The name thus connects a specific biography with a political struggle of the 19th century. Buxton’s dates of life and the year of his campaign mark two distinct points in time.

Architecture and maritime connections

Traditional Kaz Kreol, or small Creole houses, and former plantation houses can be seen in the area. These types of houses offer another way to explore the area’s history. Mont Pavillon adds a maritime connection: it guided arriving ships. Today, Mont Pavillon is credited with the role of watching schooners as they continue across the ocean. The maritime connection thus ranges from guiding arriving ships to the attributed observation of schooners sailing on.

The Seychelles in a broader context

The wider destination of the Seychelles offers additional nature and history themes. The Seychelles’ marine parks can be reached by boat; Port-Launay can also be reached on foot. On Curieuse, a raised boardwalk on stilts crosses the marsh and provides access to the mangrove habitat even at high tide. The mangrove marsh borders Baie Laraie. Curieuse was used as a quarantine site for people with leprosy for almost a hundred years. On Praslin, the 19.5-hectare Vallée de Mai is one of the world’s smallest natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is the only area in the Seychelles where all six species occur together. There are several short paths in Praslin National Park; Glacis Noire is the only official trail there. Ste. Anne Marine Park comprises six islands. Moyenne Island is home to the remains of early settlers’ houses, pirate graves and a small thatched chapel.

Discover more destinations: Baie Sainte Anne, Takamaka, Pointe La Rue, Les Mamelles, Anse aux Pins, Grand Anse Mahe, Anse Royale, Plaisance

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