What to expect
The Dauban Mausoleum stands in a quiet, secluded spot surrounded by lush vegetation and palms on the island of Silhouette. It holds the remains of Auguste Dauban (who built it), his wife Catherine and their first child, Eva, who died at just two and a half.
Its imposing architecture is a real landmark on the island, and there is very little like it elsewhere in the Seychelles. The structure is a national monument. According to the Seychelles' UNESCO World Heritage tentative list, it is built of cast iron in the neoclassical style, modelled on the Église de la Madeleine in Paris.
One of its most striking features is a group of six relatively massive columns, set along the façade and the sides. Besides its appealing design, the mausoleum offers a glimpse of several social and economic aspects that underline the standing of the Dauban family and the prosperity the island enjoyed at the time.
The Dauban family and the plantation
The Daubans came originally from France and settled in Mauritius in 1830. From the middle of the 19th century until 1960, Silhouette belonged to them. They established extensive plantations growing, among other things, coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, coffee and cacao. In 1960 Henri Dauban sold the island to a French group.
Two buildings from that era are now protected as national monuments: the mausoleum and the Plantation House in La Passe, built around 1861. The restored manor house now serves as a museum with photographs and family memorabilia. You can read more on the page Plantation House on Silhouette.
Getting there
To Silhouette
Silhouette lies about 20 km north-west of Mahé. The crossing takes around 45 minutes and departs from Bel Ombre. As far as we know, there is no public ferry service with a fixed timetable. Accommodation on the island arranges transfers for its guests. If you are not staying there, you will usually get to the island on a day trip or a chartered boat (see Boat trips). The sea is generally calmer between April and November.
On foot from the jetty to the mausoleum
Directions
From the harbour, walk for just under 10 minutes in a south-easterly direction, past La Belle Tortue Hotel. Shortly after the marsh (lake) you will see a sign on the right for the "Silhouette Native Plants Trail". Follow this path for a few minutes.
The jetty is on the beach of Anse La Passe. The island has no roads for general traffic, so the way there is on foot along paths. Sturdy shoes are worth having, as the forest path can be slippery in the rain.
Visiting: time, entry and tips
The mausoleum stands in the open, and no official opening hours are published. We know of no admission fee for visiting it (as of November 2026). According to the information available, there is no separate charge for the island itself; what you pay for is the transfer. Because 93% of the island lies within Silhouette National Park, ask your accommodation or tour operator about the current rules.
The walk is most pleasant in the morning, when the forest is still cool. If you are staying overnight on Silhouette anyway, the visit combines nicely with the Plantation House, which is also in La Passe.
- Take drinking water and insect repellent with you, as there are no shops along the way.
- The mausoleum is a burial place. Please keep quiet, take your litter away with you and do not climb on the structure.
- Other places worth visiting on the island include the beach at Anse Lascars and the hiking trails (see Hiking).
