Information
Landmark: L'Union Estate ParkCity: La Digue
Country: Seychelles
Continent: Africa
L'Union Estate Park, La Digue, Seychelles, Africa
Overview
On La Digue Island in the Seychelles, L'Union Estate Park stands as a treasured landmark, rich with history and culture-you can still smell the faint sweetness of aged vanilla plantations in the air, while visitors can step back into the island’s colonial past, wander through its lush green trails, and catch the salty scent of its traditional seaside culture.The park stretches over a wide expanse, with highlights like a working copra mill, a weathered plantation house, and a shady pen where giant tortoises lumber slowly across the grass, in turn l'Union Estate began as a working plantation, turning sun-dried coconut meat-copra-into one of Seychelles’ biggest colonial-era exports.The estate still holds much of its original character, and a visit offers a glimpse into the island’s farming history, and its 19th-century house, with wide verandas and weathered shutters, once sheltered the estate’s managers.Now part of the park, it preserves the history of colonial-era plantation life, where you can almost hear the creak of wooden floors, then among L’Union Estate’s main draws is the copra mill, a traditional workshop where coconuts are pressed for their rich, fragrant oil, to some extent The mill still runs, its gears humming, and offers a hands-on glimpse into the heritage ways of making copra, besides visitors can watch it all unfold, from workers cracking open fresh coconuts to the rich oil trickling out.And in the shade nearby, massive giant tortoises-true icons of the Seychelles-graze slowly on the grass, while you’ll find these tortoises in a special enclosure, where visitors can lean in close enough to notice the rough, weathered patterns on their shells.At L'Union Estate, a few of the tortoises have been ambling around for decades, their shells worn smooth with time, on top of that all around, tropical gardens burst with color and thick green leaves, a paradise for anyone who loves nature.Shaded walking paths wind through the gardens, where coconut palms sway beside clusters of sparkling native flowers and other tropical plants, meanwhile visitors can soak in the quiet beauty of the island while discovering its rich biodiversity, then wander over to L'Union Estate, just steps from the powdery white sands of Anse Source d'Argent-one of the world’s most celebrated beaches.From the estate, visitors can stroll down to the beach, where clear water laps at soft white sand and granite rocks rise like sculptures from the shore, then many call this beach one of the world’s most radiant, perfect for a swim in clear turquoise water, a lazy stretch in the sun, or snapping a photo of the sugar-white sand.At the estate, you can step into Seychellois culture, watching coconut oil simmer in a pot over a wood fire and seeing island crafts made by hand, not only that visitors can explore the island’s heritage and glimpse how past residents lived, from the tools they used to the stories they told, not entirely Mind you, The estate welcomes guests all year, though the cooler, drier months from May to October make for the most comfortable visit, then if you go in the early morning or late afternoon, you’ll dodge the worst of the midday heat.L’Union Estate welcomes families, offering hands-on exhibits where kids can touch smooth coconut shells and discover the island’s history, wildlife, and culture, equally important kids especially love the giant tortoises, their unhurried steps and weathered shells drawing curious stares.In the end, L'Union Estate Park is a must-glimpse on La Digue, blending history, culture, and the island’s wild beauty in one area, besides you can explore the island’s colonial past, wander through gardens dazzling with hibiscus, or stretch out on the warm sand at the nearby beach-at L'Union Estate, it all comes together to showcase the very best of Seychelles.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-09-09
