Praslin history

Discovery and First Mentions

Before the beginning of the colonial era, Praslin remained uninhabited, although its convenient bays were likely used by Arab merchants and pirates as a temporary refuge. The official history of the island begins in 1744, when the French navigator Lazare Picault landed on its shores.

Struck by the dense vegetation, Picault named the land Isle de Palmes ("Isle of Palms"). The island received its modern name in 1768 in honour of the French Minister of Marine and diplomat, the Duke César Gabriel de Choiseul-Praslin. During this same period, a "Stone of Possession" was installed here, securing the territory for the French Crown.

Key Development Factors

The transformation of the wild island into an inhabited settlement was driven by several factors:

• Unique Flora: The discovery of sea coconut (Coco-de-Mer) forests in the Vallée de Mai attracted the attention of naturalists and traders, as previously these nuts were only found in the sea and were attributed with mythical properties.
• Timber Resources: The island became an important source of valuable timber species for ship repairs and construction.
• Geography: The granite origin of the island ensured the presence of fertile soils and fresh water sources necessary for permanent residence.

Early Economy and Lifestyle

The first permanent settlements on Praslin were few in number and focused on agriculture and resource extraction. The economic life of the early period was characterised by the following features:

• Timber Export: Active deforestation for export to France and Mauritius was the main source of income in the 18th century.
• Plantation Farming: Later, spices began to be grown on the island, particularly vanilla, as well as coconuts for copra production.
• Population Formation: The first inhabitants were French colonists and the workers they brought with them, which laid the foundation for the island's unique Creole culture.

Key Historical Milestones

• 1744 — A French expedition under the command of Lazare Picault discovers the island and names it "Isle de Palmes" due to the abundance of palm forests.
• 1768 — Navigator Marion-Dufresne installs the "Stone of Possession", declaring the island French territory and renaming it Praslin.
• 1814 — According to the Treaty of Paris, the island officially passes under the administration of the British Empire.
• 1881 — The famous General Charles Gordon visits the Vallée de Mai and puts forward the theory that the biblical Garden of Eden was located precisely here.
• 1903 — The Seychelles, including Praslin, become a separate British colony, independent of the administration of Mauritius.
• 1966 — The government declares the unique Vallée de Mai forest a nature reserve to preserve the endemic Coco-de-Mer palm.
• 1972 — The Praslin Island Airport opens, giving a powerful boost to tourism development and facilitating connection with the island of Mahé.
• 1976 — The Seychelles gain independence from the United Kingdom, and Praslin becomes part of the sovereign republic.
• 1979 — The Seychelles National Parks Authority is created, taking the marine territories around the island under protection.
• 1983 — The Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Stages of Development and Transformation

The history of Praslin is a journey from an agrarian colony to an elite world-class resort. The main changes in the economy and appearance of the island are connected with shifts in economic systems, the development of transport accessibility, and the re-evaluation of natural wealth.

• Transition to Plantation Economy (19th – mid-20th century): Initially, the island served as a source of valuable timber, but later the focus shifted to agriculture. Mass cultivation of coconuts for copra production and vanilla plantations formed the cultural landscape and defined the structure of early settlements around large estates.
• Opening of the Airport (1972): The construction of the runway in the Grand Anse area became a key urban planning and economic event. Regular air service with the island of Mahé put an end to isolation, allowing the economy to be reoriented from raw material exports to receiving tourists.
• UNESCO Object Status (1983): The inclusion of the Vallée de Mai in the World Heritage list redefined the cultural significance of the island. This event stimulated the development of eco-tourism and compelled local authorities to implement strict nature conservation norms limiting uncontrolled construction.
• Modernisation of the Marine Hub in Baie Sainte Anne: The reconstruction of the jetty in St. Anne's Bay turned it into the island's main sea gateway. Port development ensured stable ferry connections (Cat Cocos) and simplified goods logistics, which is critically important for supplying hotels and restaurants.
• Emergence of Luxury Resorts (End of the 20th century): The construction of large-scale hotel complexes, such as Constance Lemuria, brought modern architecture and infrastructure (including the first golf course) to the island. This created hundreds of jobs and moved the tourism sector into the premium segment.
• Formation of Administrative Centres: The crystallisation of two main districts — Grand Anse and Baie Sainte Anne — as centres of public life. The concentration of banks, medical facilities, schools, and commercial enterprises here completed the formation of the island's modern social structure.

Architectural Appearance and Building Features

The architecture of Praslin differs significantly from classic urban planning. There are no high-rise dominants or dense historical quarters of the European type here. The appearance of the island was formed under the influence of the tropical climate, the colonial past, and the need to fit structures into the unique natural landscape. Development is predominantly low-rise, following the unspoken rule: "a building should not be higher than a coconut palm".

Historical Eras and Styles

The architectural heritage of the island can be divided into several key stages, each of which has left its mark on the visual perception of the settlements:

• Colonial Period (19th – early 20th century): Traditional Creole Style.

  This is the most recognisable style in the Seychelles. It formed as an adaptation of French and British building traditions to the hot climate.

  • Characteristic features: Steep pitched roofs made of corrugated iron (to drain tropical rains), wide verandas around the perimeter for shade and ventilation, high ceilings, and wooden louvres instead of glass.
  • Examples: Old plantation houses (Grann Kaz), which can be found in the interior of the island or on the grounds of historical estates.
• Religious Architecture (Mid-20th century): Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Gothic Motifs.

  Stone churches became the first permanent public buildings on the island, standing out against the background of wooden residential development.

  • Characteristic features: Use of local granite and coral limestone, modest decor, arched windows.
  • Iconic buildings: Church of St. Joseph in Grand Anse and Church of St. Anne in Baie Sainte Anne. These temples serve as the main architectural landmarks in their districts.
• Modern Stage (From the 1970s): Tropical Modernism and Eco-style.

  With the development of tourism, architecture appeared that strives to blend with the environment. Concrete structures are decorated with natural materials.

  • Characteristic features: Use of thatched roofs made from dry palm leaves, open layouts, integration of buildings into granite rocks, panoramic glazing.
  • Examples: The Constance Lemuria complex and the architecture of the Raffles hotel, where villas cascade down towards the sea, repeating the relief of the hills.

Urban Structure

The urbanisation of Praslin has a linear-nodal character, determined by the geography of the island (mountainous centre and habitable coast).

• Bipolar System: Island life is concentrated around two administrative centres located on opposite shores:
  • Baie Sainte Anne: The eastern centre, where the port, hospital, and main government institutions are located. Development here is denser, concentrated around the jetty and the bay.
  • Grand Anse: The western centre, representing a settlement stretched along the coast. The airport, schools, and the majority of the local population's residential housing are located here.
• Coastal Ribbon: The main road encircles the island (with the exception of the north-western tip), and practically all buildings — from shops to hotels — are "strung" onto this transport artery.

Historical Figures and Explorers

The fate of Praslin was decided not only by political decisions but also by personal ambitions, scientific interest, and even the mystical insights of specific individuals. Behind every stage of the island's development stands a vivid figure whose character and beliefs influenced how we see this resort today.

• Lazare Picault
  Talented hydrographer and discoverer
  Picault was not just a captain but also an attentive naturalist. It was his ability to admire nature, rather than just seek strategic benefits, that gave the island its first romantic name — "Isle of Palms". His reports on the richness of the local flora became the first stimulus for European interest in this region, presenting Praslin as an untouched tropical paradise.
• Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne
  Decisive naval officer and adventurer
  A man of action and strict discipline, Marion du Fresne took on the task of turning a geographical discovery into political property. His expedition was not so much research-oriented as it was state-oriented. Thanks to his persistence and organisational skills, the island was officially included in the French sphere of influence, which forever linked the culture of Praslin with French traditions.
• César Gabriel de Choiseul-Praslin
  Influential aristocrat and diplomat
  The Duke of Praslin was one of the key figures at the court of Louis XV, known for his patronage of science and navigation. Although he never left Europe to travel to the Indian Ocean, his political support for maritime expeditions was so significant that explorers considered it an honour to name the island after him. This highlights the high status that was attached to new territories at that time.
• Charles George Gordon
  British general and mystic
  The personality of General Gordon is one of the most colourful in the island's history. Deeply religious and prone to mysticism, he viewed the world through the prism of biblical texts. Finding himself in the forests of Praslin, he sincerely believed that he had found the true Eden. His conviction that the Coco-de-Mer palm was the Tree of Knowledge was not just a legend, but the fruit of his personal theological research, which he described in detail in his writings.
• Pierre Poivre
  Visionary botanist and administrator
  A man with an amazing destiny, who lost an arm in a naval battle but did not lose his passion for botany. Poivre was obsessed with the idea of breaking his competitors' monopoly on the spice trade. His enterprise and foresight led to the creation of famous spice gardens. It is thanks to his botanical zeal that cinnamon and vanilla took root on the islands, the aromas of which have become an integral part of the atmosphere of Praslin.