The house and how it was built
The Eustache Sardes House is undoubtedly one of the few surviving examples of its kind on La Digue, Seychelles. It is a protected building and counts as a national monument.
It was built in the early 20th century with almost geometric precision and refinement. It once stood on large masonry pillars, but today the wooden house rests on a concrete foundation. It has an outdoor veranda with a decorative wooden balustrade, and an attic room provides ample living space under the roof. The design is so well thought out that it allows natural ventilation.
If you only stop briefly, three things are worth a look: the wooden balustrade of the veranda, the attic under the roof and the proportions of the façade. Wooden houses like this have become rare in the Seychelles, and there are only a few on La Digue.
Getting there and location
By ferry to La Digue
La Digue has no airport. Ferries dock at the jetty at La Passe, and from there you continue on foot or by bicycle. Current timetables and prices can be found on the page about the Cat Cocos ferry and from the operator itself (Cat Cocos). For an overview of connections between the islands, see Getting around the Seychelles.
| Route | Travel time (approx.) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mahé to La Digue | 1 hr 45 min | with a stop in Praslin, you stay on board |
| Praslin to La Digue | 15 min | Cat Rose and Cat Cocos |
| La Digue to Mahé direct | about 1 hr 10 min | Saturdays and Sundays only, otherwise via Praslin |
From the harbour to the house
Directions
From La Digue harbour, follow the coast road south on foot or by bicycle. About 700 m from the harbour, on the right-hand side of the road, you can admire this lovely wooden house. It stands directly in front of the Cable & Wireless shop with the blue logo.
Directories give differing distances, with figures of up to 1.5 km, so allow yourself a little leeway. Officially the house is registered at the address Anse Réunion. If the shop's appearance has changed, use the position on the coast road between the harbour and Anse La Réunion as your guide.
Bicycles are available right at the jetty and at the guesthouses. The usual rate is around SCR 150 to 200 per day (as of November 2026), while e-bikes cost considerably more depending on the provider. The roads are unlit at night, so a bike light is sensible after dark.
Visiting: access, duration and etiquette
A family with children lives in the house.
You can therefore only view the house from the road. No fixed opening hours or admission fee have been published, and there is no offer of a tour inside.
Tips and what is nearby
Behind it, the restaurant "Le Bon Coin" opened in 2017/2018. Check on the spot whether it is still open, as one directory lists it as closed. You will find more restaurants and snack stalls in La Passe near the harbour.
The house fits well into a tour that follows the coast anyway. Other stops on La Digue:
- Anse La Réunion, the beach after which the house is named in the directory
- L’Union Estate with the Plantation House, another national monument, and the Granite Boulder
- Anse Source d’Argent, which is reached through L’Union Estate, where an entrance fee applies
- Barbara Jenson Studio and Green Gecko Gallery for art and crafts
If you would like to know more about the history of the islands, you will find background at History of the Seychelles and Culture of the Seychelles. For an overview of the whole island, see La Digue.
