Before the 18th century prior to Europeans arrival, the archipelago was uninhabited. During this period, many African slaves were brought to the islands by the French and British settlers. This mix of cultures and ethnicities eventually gave birth to the Seychelles.

Sightings

The islands have been sighted before. It is believed that they were discovered in the Seventh Century by Arab sailors. In 1602, the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama spotted the archipelago and indicated it using the name Treis Irmos.

French Arrival

The French began looking for a faster route from Mauritius to India. In 1742, Lazare Picault landed on the island and named it after the French administrator of Mauritius, Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais.

In 1770, the French decided to establish a spice plantation in the Seychelles. They also brought along a dozen slaves from various Indian and African countries.

The French remained a part of the country until 1814, when it was handed over to the British. The French influence on the reality of the Seychelles is still strong.

The British

Following the Treaty of Paris in 1815, the Seychelles were handed over to Great Britain. Although the islands retained their French traditions, they were also governed by the British.

In 1835, after slavery was abolished in the British territories, hundreds of freed African slaves arrived in the islands in exchange for food rations and work on the plantations. This helped make the Seychelles’ population more diverse.

The first Seychelles elections were held in 1948. Following the split from the British Crown, the country gained greater political awareness. In 1967, the first completely independent elections were held.

Seychelles today

The Seychelles are now a truly unique place to visit. Not just because of their diversity, but also due to the immense diversity of their natural environment.

Today, sustainable tourism and rigorous nature conservation and marine ecosystem conservation projects play an important role in Seychelles and ensure that this paradise is preserved.