What to expect
The three pairs of outstretched white wings of the Bicentennial Monument are built of plain masonry and stand on the roundabout between 5th June Avenue and Independence Avenue. Striking as they are, they make every onlooker wonder about the meaning of this elegant, geometric piece of art.
This is not a place for a long visit. The monument stands in the open on a traffic island, with no entrance fee, no fence and no signboard explaining it all. If you are getting around Victoria you will pass it anyway, and a short stop is enough for a few photos and a look at the clean lines. Its appeal lies in the contrast between the plain white masonry and the green of the flamboyant trees and the mountains behind.
History and meaning
The Bicentennial Monument, known in Creole as 'Moniman trwa lezel' (three-wing monument), was erected in 1978 to mark the 200th birthday of the town of Victoria on Mahé. Victoria was founded in 1778 by the Frenchman Charles Routier de Romainville as a settlement of the King. The settlement was originally called L'Établissement du Roi, and it received its present name later, under British rule, after Queen Victoria. The monument was created by the Italian artist Lorenzo Appiani, who lived in the Seychelles.
The three wings represent the origins of the Seychellois people, who can be described as a cheerful mixture of ethnic groups from three continents (Africa, Europe, Asia). The wings could also symbolise the first discoverers of the islands. Birds, of course.
Getting there
The monument stands right in the heart of Victoria, and you will almost inevitably pass it. This roundabout is where 5th June Avenue, Independence Avenue and Flamboyant Avenue (towards the Cat Cocos terminal and the Inter Island Quay) meet.
By car
You can park free of charge in the car park between Flamboyant Avenue and 5th June Avenue. On weekdays between 8am and 4pm it is usually quite full. Outside those hours and at weekends it is easier to find a space.
If you are taking the ferry to Praslin or La Digue, you can easily combine a stop at the monument with your departure, as the Inter Island Quay is at the end of Flamboyant Avenue. There is an automated pay car park there (IIQ Pay Parking) with room for around 260 vehicles, which according to booking portals is open daily from 5am to 8pm. It is meant for ferry passengers, and you do not need it just to see the monument.
By bus
From Victoria bus terminal, take Palm Street eastwards until it meets 5th June Avenue. Follow this south for a few minutes until you reach the first roundabout.
All Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) routes end or stop at the terminal in Victoria. On Mahé and Praslin the buses are cashless, so you need a card before you board. A daytime journey costs SCR 10 (as of November 2026), regardless of distance. Visitors can buy multi-day cards. They are sold at the airport, at SPTC sales points and at post offices, and can also be ordered online in advance.
Visiting and tips
The roundabout is part of the road network in the town centre, and the route towards the harbour is often busy with traffic. Take your photos from the pavements at the edge and do not step onto the carriageway. Remember that traffic drives on the left in Seychelles when you cross the road on foot.
The car park on Flamboyant Avenue is the bottleneck on weekdays during the day. If you are heading into town anyway, it is best to park early in the morning or in the late afternoon and explore the centre on foot.
Nearby
Victoria is small and easy to explore on foot. Around the monument you can see, among other things:
- Victoria Clocktower, the best-known landmark of the capital
- Zonm Lib / Liberation / Liberty Monument on 5th June Avenue
- Unity Monument
- Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, the town's market
- National Museum of History
- Hindu Temple: Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception and St Paul's Cathedral
- Carrefour des Arts
