Located in the north, the Notre Dame Auxiliatrice de Cap Malheureux is one of the oldest churches to have witnessed one of the well-documented battles between the French and the British for possession of the island.
The Notre Dame Auxiliatrice a Roman Catholic Church, is notable in Mauritius for its vibrant red roof against the incredible turquoise sea and azure sky.
Cap Malheureux is a small fishing village about ten minutes from Grand Baie. Its name translates as “Unfortunate/Unhappy Cape” due to the countless ships that have sunk there in the past.
Notre Dame Auxiliatrice is well-known for its magnificent red roof chapel, which attracts many interested passers-by and provides a picturesque backdrop for memorable photos. This modest chapel, founded in 1938, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
It is beautifully placed at Mauritius’s most northern point, affording stunning views of the five northern islets, notably Coin de Mire (Gunner’s Quoin).
This Roman Catholic Church attracts a large number of visitors and worshippers. On Sunday mornings, many tourists attend mass. This church is worth a visit if you are in the north of Mauritius.
Some claim it was named after the sinking of the warship Saint Geran on August 18, 1744, which inspired Bernardin de St Pierre to write his famous novel “Paul and Virginie”. Others claim it got its name from the numerous shipwrecks that occurred in the vicinity during the island’s early settlement. It is also a historical site commemorating the British landing on the island in 1810 to battle the French. The French, who occupied the island from 1710 until 1810, dubbed it Cape of Misfortune after the British surprised them by attacking the north of the island rather than the island’s harbor.
It is also a historical site commemorating the British landing on the island in 1810 to battle the French. The French, who inhabited the island from 1710 to 1810, named it the Cape of Misfortune after the British surprised them by invading the north of the island rather than the island’s harbor in Mahébourg and seizing control of the island.
The most convenient method to get to the Notre Dame Auxiliatrice is to take one of the many public buses from Port Louis’ Immigration Square, which will drop you off at Cap Malheureux after a little detour via Grand Baie in less than 30 minutes.
If you are the type of person who prefers to hold the steering wheel, you may simply set out on a drive from Port Louis, staying primarily on the M2, entering the A5, and exiting only on the B13.
The latter allows you to park your automobile in front of the Red gates of Notre Dame Cathedral in less than 50 minutes.
This little fishing village has a truly idyllic location, with its beach and fishermen wandering about. The area is made up of a few private houses. It includes a marine cemetery, a temple Tamoul, and the well-known Toit Rouge or red roofed Church of Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice, which appears on many cartes postales and all tourist guides.
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The location is popular for weddings and photoshoots. (For the photographed church)