A mixture of European, Asian and Africans, the Seychelles are descendants of the first French settlers, African slaves, British sailors and traders. There are small minorities of Chinese an Indians. National languages of the country are English, French and Creole since 1981. Seychelles enjoys a relatively high standard of living and is ranked as an upper middle income developing country.


THE CULTURE :

Art :


For a small country, there are several very well kown painters residing there. Perhaps the best of these is Michael Adams who catches the spirit of the islands, its animals, people, vegetation and crisp white buildings. Other artists are Leon Radegonde, Gérard Devoud and Marc Duc.

Museums :

In Victoria you´ ll find the National Museum on Independence Avenue, the History Museum on State House Avenue and both the National Library and National Archives are on Francis Rachel Street. The National Museum exhibits local cultural and natural history with artifacts including ship wreckage, coral, voodoo implements, stuffed tortoises, old musical instruments and household objects and various possessions of the pirates who once roamed the waters.

Festivals :

October - Creole festival - is the biggest festival of the year. Artists from all over the region gather to display their works, play Creole music, dance, perform plays and generally celebrate their heritage.
November - SUBIOS - a festival to celebrate Seychelles´ underwater world and attracts worldwide recognized underwater experts in photography, film making and conservation.

MAHÉ :




At 59 square miles Mahé is, by far, the largest island and it is home to the capital, Victoria, the international air port, the fishing and commercial ports, most of the population and many resorts and hotels, plus four casinos. Its powdery white, idyllic beaches, lush vegetation, plantations of coconut palms and cinnamon rise to forested peaks with unequalled views of the neighboring islands. Surrounded by coral reefs the clear, calm waters invite relaxation and many water sports. Althought, it is the nation´s economic hub, it has retained all of its natural beauty and charm. You can visit the 100 year old Botanical Gardens, the capital with its famous clock tower, the National Museum or Morne Seychellois National Park. You can find out why the Seychellois are called "the friendliest people on earth". With its incredible amount of daytime activities and lively nightlife, Mahé can truly offer something for everyone.