Spot the 1938 red-roofed church, the view of Coin de Mire and the nearby beaches before visiting Cap Malheureux in northern Mauritius.
Cap Malheureux, Mauritius, lies at the northernmost tip of the country. This fishing village is renowned for Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice Chapel, inaugurated on 7 August 1938, whose scarlet roof stands out against the blue lagoon. Offshore, the distinctive sloping silhouette of Coin de Mire closes the horizon, 8 km from the coast. Our concierges at Legend Hill, a luxury hotel in Mauritius, recommend that guests visit at the end of the day. Here is the history of the site, its panoramic views and the local customs worth knowing.
Notre-Dame Auxiliatrice gives the village its most recognisable silhouette: white walls, exposed timber framework, a carved-stone altar and a striking red roof facing the sea. The chapel was designed by Max Boullé and built by Raoul Lolliot, at the initiative of Father Albert Glorieux, a Belgian missionary then parish priest of Saint-Michel de Grand-Gaube. It was consecrated on 7 August 1938.
The sanctuary remains an active place of worship and is open to visitors outside religious services. Its real appeal, however, lies in its setting: behind the bell tower, the Indian Ocean fills the entire horizon. It is this view, more than the architecture itself, that has made the building one of the most widely photographed images of Mauritius.
Visit in the late afternoon. The low sunlight warms the colour of the roof, fishermen pull their pirogues up onto the sand, and the offshore landscape stands out clearly against the horizon. This is the time our guests most often choose for photographs.
The name Cap Malheureux refers to shipwrecks that occurred on the reefs just offshore, which were particularly treacherous for sailing vessels. This exposed headland, subject to winds and currents, was long considered one of the most feared points along the Mauritian coast.
A second episode sealed the site’s reputation. On 29 November 1810, British troops landed here before advancing towards Port Louis. The French surrender came a few days later, bringing French rule on the island to an end. This quiet village therefore witnessed a turning point in the history of Mauritius in less than a week.
Allow half a day in Cap Malheureux, enough time to see the village in action. Buy fresh fish as the pirogues return, have lunch at a seaside shack, and leave with a piece of jewellery made before your eyes. In between, you can simply walk out into the lagoon, which remains shallow enough to allow you to wade a considerable distance towards the open sea.
Once you have explored the village, the entire north is within easy reach: a few minutes by car or boat is all it takes.
Our guests often combine Cap Malheureux with a boat trip to Gabriel Island: a morning on the water, lunch on the way back, and then the church in the evening light. That is the order that works best.
Allow approximately 1.5 hours to travel from Rivière Noire to the northern tip of Mauritius, covering around 68 km via the Terre Rouge–Verdun–Trianon Link Road. The route crosses the central plateau before descending towards Grand Baie. From our Legend Hill estate, perched on the heights of La Tourelle, our concierge team can arrange this excursion as a full-day outing.
This format leaves enough time to combine a boat trip, lunch overlooking the lagoon and a visit to the sanctuary in the late afternoon. Our concierges can arrange the transfer, boat booking and return journey, so you do not have to drive.
Would you like to discover northern Mauritius without giving up the tranquillity of the west coast? Book your stay at Legend Hill: our concierges can plan your day in Cap Malheureux, from departure to your return at sunset.
Fancy seeing the chapel in the evening light?
Method: the history and description of the chapel were taken from the SOS Patrimoine en Péril inventory, the attribution of the design to Max Boullé and the details of the consecration were confirmed by La Gazette, the area of Coin de Mire was verified in the World Database on Protected Areas managed by UNEP-WCMC, the 1810 turning point was cross-checked with the Encyclopædia Britannica, and the travel times and field advice were supplied by the Legend Hill team, verified in September 2026.
As Concierge Officer at Legend Hill, Kareena Seecharan looks after guests from arrival to departure and coordinates the services that shape a stay. Trained at the Sir Gaëtan Duval Hotel School, where she earned a National Certificate Level 3 in Front Office and then the Train the Trainer certification in 2025, she knows the west coast inside out. Her recommendations feed our guide to things to do in Mauritius.
La Plantation Marguery
Black River Mauritius
Tel : +230 5509 8168
reservations@legendhill-mauritius.com