Bel Air Cemetery is the oldest cemetery, located in the Bel Air district on the western outskirts of Victoria, Seychelles. It was the island's first official cemetery, founded by French settlers soon after L'Établissement du Roi was established in 1778.
History The cemetery was opened soon after the initial French settlement on Mahé, making it the earliest formal burial site in the archipelago. Most early settlers were interred here, except those buried on private plantations. It was used during significant events, including burials following the devastating landslide and flood (known as the "Lavalasse") on 12 October 1862, and the smallpox epidemic of 1883. The site was officially closed to new burials on 4 June 1902, by the local board of health. Over time, tropical weather and neglect led to deterioration, with many tombs, vaults, and wrought-iron crosses reduced to ruins.
In 1985, it was designated as a national monument.
Notable burials
Charles Drorthee Savy Charles Dupuy Jean Baptiste Rémy d'Argent Jean-François Hodoul Pierre-Louis Poiret Thomas Paton
References