What to expect
Carrefour des Arts in the heart of the capital, Victoria, is known for the best local art and handicrafts, rooted in the traditions, folklore and natural surroundings of the Seychelles.
From illustrations to crafts, the attraction brings together a range of artistic styles. It serves as an outlet for Seychellois creativity and gives visitors an ideal place to pick up a lasting souvenir of their island stay.
Carrefour des Arts also has a cafeteria for refreshments and shops selling CDs, DVDs, videos and cassettes by Seychellois musicians. The box office on site sells tickets for local theatre performances and other productions. The exact range on offer may change, so ask when you are there.
Carrefour des Arts is run by the National Arts Council of Seychelles, to promote and benefit local artists.
The way in leads along a short, narrow pedestrian lane between a car park and the National Library. Here you will see sculptures made of metal, wire and wood, as well as street art by local artists. The small buildings along the lane house studios and sales rooms, and the National Arts Council sits at the end of the lane. If you are looking for art by Seychellois, you will find it all in one place.
Getting there
On foot and by car
From the Clocktower, follow Francis Rachel Street to the Stadium Car Park and leave your car there. The building is at the southern end of the car park, between the two main roads, Francis Rachel Street and 5th June Avenue, in front of the National Library.
By bus
From the bus station, take Palm Street heading east and turn right into 5th June Avenue, heading south. Continue straight on across the roundabout with the Bicentennial Monument. Directly in front of the National Library, a small tarred path leads off to the right, and you can already see the yellow building. Time: about 15 minutes.
All bus routes on Mahé run via the central bus station in Victoria, so you can get here from any part of the island, usually with one change. According to recent reports, fares on the buses are paid cashless by card. For current fares and timetables, see the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation.
Opening hours, admission and payment
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 9.00 to 16.00 |
| Saturday | 9.00 to 12.00 |
| Sunday | closed |
The following payment methods are accepted: cash (euros, Seychelles rupees (SCR), US dollars, Swiss francs), MasterCard, Visa. For smaller amounts, rupees are best. The lane with the sculptures is a public thoroughfare, and we are not aware of any entrance fee for it. The box office on site can tell you the prices for performances.
Tips and nearby sights
Plan your visit within opening hours so that the gallery, shops and box office are open. Outside those hours you can usually still look at the sculptures in the lane. If you are after a souvenir, you will find works made in the Seychelles here, and you can ask the artists and their outlets directly. Music by local artists is available on CD in the shops.
Carrefour des Arts fits well into a stroll through the centre of Victoria. Nearby you will find the Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market, the Craft Kiosks on the Esplanade, the National Museum of History and the Natural History Museum. For more studios and galleries, try the Antonio Filippin Sculpture Studio and the Les Mamelles Art Gallery. You can read more about the island on the Mahé page.
