Anse-aux-Anglais | English Bay is a tourist village that conceals a very fascinating story around a treasure. According to legend, pirates have hidden there, in the hollow of the mountain, a chest, precious jewels and precious stones; spoils from their hunt in the Indian Ocean. But since then, the clues have disappeared and the mystery is not close to being solved. 

Located five minutes from the capital Port Mathurin, Anse-aux-Anglais is well known and appreciated for its beaches and shops. On afternoons and weekends, the village is teeming with people. For some, it is the ideal place to admire the sunset while looking towards Île au Fou. For others, it is the ideal place for a moment of relaxation with friends for “coz coze” and a drink, while some indulge in a game of cards or dominoes. The silence is often broken by loud bursts of laughter and the noise of vehicles passing through the village. 

The history of this place is linked to the landing of British troops on the beach in 1809 during the Napoleonic wars. Rodrigues then depended on Isle de France (Mauritius), itself a French colony. However, to put an end to the activities of French corsairs in this region of the Indian Ocean, the British decided to seize the Mascarene archipelago. To invade Isle de France, the troops first landed in Rodrigues and based themselves there. They established their camp at Anse aux Anglais. From there, the lookout could scan the horizon to give the alert to the slightest suspicious movement. 

The treasure remains untraceable 

The watchtower was located a little higher, not far from the current location of the Pointe Vénus hotel. This point offers a panoramic view of the azure blue lagoon. When the sun shines brightly, the sea sparkles like a diamond. Speaking of diamonds, villagers firmly believe that a treasure is buried somewhere on the road leading from Anse-aux-Anglais to Crève-Cœur. The writer Jean-Marie Le Clézio evokes the mystery of this famous treasure. It is, it seems, guided by the clues carved in the stone, that in 1909, his grandfather, Léon Le Clézio, began the first excavations. However, since the stones disappeared, following the construction of the road, there are no more clues. Everything suggests that the treasure, if there is treasure, will remain hidden for a long time yet. 

If during the day, the village is not very animated, at nightfall, the decor changes completely. Anse aux Anglais is one of the few villages on the northern coast where the entertainment is often in full swing until late hours. It is above all the place where tourists and villagers rub shoulders. Two main restaurants accommodates and service for lunch and dinner. The Blue Marlin and La Plage Resto Bar. Two iconic restaurants and bars which both demands your visit and taste their menu.