18/01/2020
The Red Church at Cap Malheureux
One of the most renowned churches in Mauritius is the Notre Dame Auxiliatrice Chapel, a Roman Catholic Church famous for its vivid red roof against the bright turquoise sea and azure sky.
Located ten minutes from Grand Bay is the small fishing village of Cap Malheureux. It translates to “Unfortunate/Unhappy Cape”, due to the numerous ships, which floundered there in the past.
The Notre Dame Auxiliatrice Church is famous for its lovely red roof, which attracts many curious passers-by and offers a picturesque background for worthy snapshots. This simple chapel was founded in 1938 and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is situated ideally at the very northern point of Mauritius, offering breathtaking views of the five northern islets, including Coin de Mire (Gunner’s Quoin). The name of the red-roofed church is attributed to many sources. Some say that it was named, following the sinking of the vessel Saint Geran on the 18 August 1744, which inspired Bernardin de St Pierre to write his famous novel ‘’ Paul and Virginie ‘’. While others believe it owes its name to the numerous shipwrecks that occurred in this area at the beginning of the colonization of the island.
It is also a historical point that marks the landing of the British onto the island in 1810, to attack the French. The French who occupied the island then, from 1710 to 1810, named it the Cape of Misfortune after the British surprised them by attacking the north of the island instead of the island’s harbour in Mahébourg and took possession of the island.
tourism_de @ Cap Malheureux, Riviere Du Rempart, Mauritius