Bel Air Cemetery

Bel Air Cemetery

The Bel Air Cemetery was the first official burial ground to be opened on Mahe Island by the French. Here you will see many important milestones, vaults, and shrines tombs of many eminent personalities. The graves of pirate Jean- Francois Hodoul and Pierre-Louis Poiret, son of Louise XVI are must watch.

Counted among the oldest historic site in Seychelles, The Bel Air Cemetery was opened in the late 1780s by the settlers who created the L’Etablissement du Roi on Mahé Island in 1778. This oldest historic site contains the remains of some of the islands’ most famous personalities such as corsair Jean-Francois Hodoul and the nine feet tall Charles Drorthee Savy, poisoned at the age of 14 by neighbors, fearful of his height. Pierre-Louise Poiret who claimed to be the son of Louise XVI is also buried here. You will also find the graves of the victims of the smallpox epidemic of 1883 here. At the entrance, you will see the words ‘’Belle pensee d’un commandant bienaisant” engraved on a slab.

Location: Ber Air. Victoria

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