L'Union Estate
Coconut and vanilla plantation in Seychelles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
L'Union Estate is an 18th-century coconut and vanilla plantation in the island of La Digue, Seychelles.
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| L'Union Estate | |
|---|---|
The colonial plantation house at L'Union Estate, December 2016 | |
  L'Union Estate Location within Seychelles | |
| Type | National Heritage Site |
| Location | La Digue, Seychelles |
| Coordinates | 4.363146182322249°S 55.825615826497966°E |
| Area | 741.316 acres (300.000 ha) |
| Operator | L'Union Estate Company Limited |
| Visitors | 15,000 per month (2026) |
History
Originally established as a 300-hectares plantation in 18th century growing coconuts for copra and oil, vanilla, and other tropical crops, the estate later included the Plantation House (locally known as Grann Kaz),[1] an example of French colonial architecture in the Seychelles, built with hardwood and a thatched roof, which served as the residence of the Rasool and Hossein originally from Persia (today's Iran), who owned the estate for a period.[2] Coconut processing continued until the 1980s using traditional ox-driven mills, and vanilla cultivation required hand pollination due to the absence of natural pollinators. But, later it was the holiday home of former President of Seychelles France-Albert René.[3]
By the end of 2010s, it got preserved as a national monument and tourist site.[4] It includes restored buildings,[5] a cemetery with early settlers' graves, a copra kiln, vanilla plantations, giant tortoises, and access to Anse Source d'Argent.[2] In 2017, the government introduced a scheme to share estate ownership with La Digue residents, retaining 51% and selling 49% to locals.[6] By 2022, the estate became part of an initiative to supply fresh produce and meat to residents and tourist establishments.[7]
In media
- The estate and its plantation house were used as a filming location for the 1977 French film Goodbye Emmanuelle.[3][5]
