Notre Dame Auxiliatrice

Cap Malheureux


Cap Malheureux's much-photographed church, the red-roofed Notre Dame Auxiliatrice, is worth a quick peek inside for its intricate woodwork and a holy-water basin fashioned out of a giant clamshell. A sign strictly prohibits newlyweds 'faking' a church wedding for the photographers here, but newlyweds – genuine or otherwise, photographers in tow – are a common sight in the church grounds. You can attend Mass here at 6pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Cap Malheureux attractions

1. Galerie du Moulin Cassé

2.27 MILES

Housed in a charmingly restored sugar mill, the Galerie du Moulin Cassé features the vibrant floral scenes of painter Malcolm de Chazal (1902–82) and a…

2. Shiv Kalyan Vath Mandir

3.04 MILES

Shiv Kalyan Vath Mandir is a vividly coloured Tamil temple that's older than Surya Oudaya Sangam. Remove your shoes before entering.

3. Surya Oudaya Sangam

3.81 MILES

Surya Oudaya Sangam, located at the western end of town, is dedicated to Shiva. Visitors are welcome, but remove your shoes before entering.

4. Château Labourdonnais

5.98 MILES

One of the loveliest examples of colonial architecture on the island, restored Château Labourdonnais was completed in 1859. Built in teak and sporting an…

5. Mauritius Aquarium

8.08 MILES

This small aquarium has a decent collection of tropical fish (including clownfish), but the real stars are the whitetip reef sharks and hawksbill turtles…

6. L'Aventure du Sucre

8.28 MILES

The former Beau Plan sugar factory houses one of the best museums in Mauritius. It not only tells the story of sugar in great detail but also covers the…

8. Baie de l'Arsenal Ruins

9.7 MILES

You can still see the ruins of the French arsenal – along with a flour mill and a lime kiln – within the grounds of the Maritim Resort & Spa at Baie de l…