Chazfest 2024 (Mauritius)

Chazfest 2024 Mauritius

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Credit photos Zbigniew Sedzimir, zsphotostories.com

assistance aux mots d’accueil

François de Grivel

Welcome words – Les mots d’accueil de François de Grivel à Saint Antoine
Dear Cousins, Dear Friends,
On behalf of my family Grivel, who is actually, the only member of the Domaine Saint Antoine, I have the immense pleasure to welcome you all, “Descendants de Régis de CHAZAL”
Our ancestor, Joseph Antoine Edmond de CHAZAL, brother of Furcy de CHAZAL, acquired Saint Antoine in 1835, where we are all together gathered here today.
For memory, the 10th child of Edmond Régis de Chazal, my grand grand father, bought, up to 1913, all the shares of his brothers and sisters to become the only owner of St Antoine .
I have also the immense pleasure to introduce Jean Pierre de CHAZAL actually the head of our family CHAZAL, and chairman of our association. He took over from Tristan de Chazal, our dear cousin, who passed away recently.
With Jean Pierre and an active comity, we were very happy to organise this family gathering, representing 300 years of settlement of the “descendant Régis de CHAZAL” in Ile de France and Mauritius Island.
I am pleased to give this floor to Jean Pierre, wishing all of you an excellent and wonderful time during this memorable week from 19th of October up to 27th October 2024.
François de Grivel, CBE

Causerie de Jean-Pierre de Chazal (Translation in English : Miranda Patel)

Bonsoir, good evening, buenas noches argentinos y bolivianos,

Your presence here in such great number is proof of how interested you are in the flamboyant history of our family and its characteristic way of thinking.

This eighth Chazfest was made possible, at the initiative of the committee of “The descendants of Regis de Chazal, 1732-1772” association thanks to the devotion and efficiency of its ten members, whom I have the pleasure of introducing to you this evening. They are: first, our youngest member and vice-chairperson, Eugenie Sauzier-de Rosnay, then Janick Merven, Alain de Chazal, “the band leader of our committee”, Francois de Grivel, Pierre Baissac, Bruno Espitalier Noel, Francois Rogers and me. Anne Goupille and Patricia d’Unienville are also committee members but absent this evening. I must add that Christine de Grivel has been a great help and has used her great talent as a watercolorist and artist.

The year 2024 which was chosen for the organisation of our Chazfest falls on the 300th anniversary of our presence on this island. Indeed, it was on 26 August 1724, after a long journey on the Duc de Chartres, that the first of our ancestors set foot on the island. Hardly anyone lived here; only a few dozen people inhabited the isle. This man hailed from Saint-Malo, France, and his name was Jean Toussaint Jocet de la Porte. His grand-daughter, Jeanne Jaquette would go on to marry Regis de Chazal de Chamarel from whom we are all descended.

Who are we?

The French writer, Christophe Chabbert, author of a thesis on Malcolm de Chazal, wrote: “The Chazals are quite special, always going against the grain, always to be found where you least expect them. Few families can boast about generating such strong, hot-blooded and daring characters. To be a Chazal is in fact not to accept to be like everyone else. Sometimes to be misunderstood, to be permanently ahead of one’s time.”

Raymond d’Unienville recently stated in a video: “It can be said that the Chazals have always stood out from others in what they have done. I do not know of a single mediocre Chazal. They are either completely mad or brilliantly intelligent.” Actually, our forefathers had to have been a little mad to have dared to undertake the adventures that they did.

As for Malcolm de Chazal, he noted: “There are two characteristics common to the Chazals: extraordinary moral courage, that is to say an iron will and a refusal to think like everybody else and become a robot”.

Where do we come from?

The career paths of some of our forefathers were surprising and stood out by their being so tremendously enterprising. What we know of the family began in 1605, four centuries ago, when Jean Chazal was born. Indeed he handed down his genes to us and from generation to generation our gene pool has become richer through a string of alliances and has given birth to the hereditary spirit that defines us, unites us and that has been named the moutouc-Chazal. The moutouc is stubborn, it is ingrained in us, impossible to get rid of it! It is also very contagious and can even be passed on to one’s spouse. All of you here are therefore condemned to be original, independently minded, passionate, ingenious, creative, intellectually nonconformist, but also extravagant. That spirit is the jewel in our crown, our wealth, let us cherish it.

But the first to have that moutouc-Chazal were undeniably three brothers who were born to be empire-builders. They lived in the 18th century, children of Noble Aime de Chazal. The eldest, Pierre de Chazal, the most moderate of the three, was a philosopher and lawyer. He bought a manor house in Bonny-sur-Loire in France, thus becoming a lord of the manor at the age of 30. He was promoted to the Grand Conseil, the highest ranking legal institution in the country. Then the King was condemned to death, the country was turned upside down, terror ensued and the civil war began to spread. Pierre would live through difficult times with great courage. The manor house was wrecked and the furniture stolen but he would miraculously survive. When Bonaparte came to power, the manor house, La Sablonniere, returned to its former glory.

The second brother was Francois de Chazal de la Geneste. At the age of 24 he began his career in Pondicherry, India, as a trading assistant in the Compagnie des Indes. It was a very famous position in the Indian peninsula. It consisted of buying goods, silk in particular, supplies for the ships when they came in. He finally settled on this island in 1759 taking up a position as adviser to the Conseil Superieur. For six years he would be by the side of Pierre Poivre, the administrator who chaired the Conseil. Philibert Commerson, a medical doctor and naturalist, gave a plant the name of Chassalia in his honour. The plant’s flower resembles some types of coral. Francois had an enigmatic personality and moved in occult circles. That intrigued the writer Bernardin de Saint-Pierre who tried to befriend him.

The youngest of the three brothers, Regis de Chazal de Chamarel, arrived on the island during 1770, that is 46 years after Jean Toussaint Jocet de la Porte and 11 years after his brother Francois. He was probably the weirdest of the three. He had taken part in the Seven-Year war as a captain in the Provence regiment before being discharged. He had had an illegitimate daughter called Louise who would be adopted by Pierre, his eldest brother. Regis was married in France and died only two years after his arrival on the island. He left two young children, Toussaint and Charles, colourful characters that we will discuss in the next few days. Regis is therefore the ancestor of all the Chazals in the world.

Nine generations later, over 8,000 people have descended from that man. Among those descendants were exceptional men and women such as Malcy, Denise, Edmond, Evenor and Lucien.

But the one who is the most well-known internationally is, as you have all guessed, Malcolm de Chazal. The fact is that his personality and his works underwent a generational transmutation. He himself was proud of his heritage.

We all have a duty to perpetuate the chazalian values, that is integrity, dignity, honor, open-mindedness, courage and generosity. We should be proud of being a “Chazal”, it is a privilege indeed. In order to hand down and defend our magnificent family inheritance, we set up the following association, “The descendants of Regis de Chazal, 1735-1772”. Membership is open to the thousands of descendants that are presently dispersed in the four corners of the world. In view of the incredible number of participants in this year’s Chazfest, we are expecting a new wave of prospective members of the association. You would also be taking part in the projects listed in our charter, especially the cultural ones to do with the family. Be our correspondents, leader writers, special envoys and ambassadors.

I am unable to conclude this speech without honoring the memory of our cousin, Tristan de Chazal, author of the great family dictionary that includes the new generations. I salute his memory, his enterprising mind and his tenaciousness.

Thank you all for coming. https://chazfest.com/de-chazal-worldwide-association/

Le 8 décembre 2023

(ENGLISH VERSION BELOW – VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL ABAJO)

Chers amis,

Comme vous le savez, la réunion de notre famille, le Chazfest Mauritius 2024, se tiendra du 19 au 27 octobre. Tous les descendants de Régis de Chazal (1735-1772) et leurs familles y sont conviés. Une forte participation est attendue pour cet évènement majeur. 

Afin de déterminer avec précision le coût de chaque sortie, nous souhaitons connaître rapidement votre intention de participation à ce Chazfest et aux cinq journées événementielles. Cette déclaration d’intention ne vous engage pas à ce stade. Votre engagement définitif sera à confirmer ultérieurement. 

La carte ci-dessous vous permet de localiser les hôtels proposés et les lieux visités lors de chaque journée. Pour plus de précision vous pouvez les retrouver tous sur Google Earth.

En ce qui concerne les hôtels des prix préférentiels ont été obtenus par notre association : 

Tarifs Hotelier/Hotel Rates

HOTEL CASUARINA 3*  (maximum of 3 en demi pension)

https://www.hotel-casuarina.com

Chambre Privilège vue mer                                                       euro 126 pour un couple

(euro 63 additionnel pour un ado ou euro 42 additionnel pour un enfant)

Bungalow (maximum de quatre personnes)                       euro 188

(supplément B & B, 8 euros par adulte et 5 euros par enfant)

(supplément demi-pension, 10 euros par adulte, 8 euros par enfant)

HOTEL VERANDA GRAND BAIE 4* (2 adultes, 2 enfants moins de 12 ans en demi-pension)

https://www.veranda-resorts.com

Appartement                                                                                   euro 214

(euro 37 additionnel par enfant)

COIN DE MIRE ATTITUDE 3* (en demi-pension, bébé et enfant de <6 ans gratuit)

https://hotels-attitude.com

Chambre Double                                                                            Mauritian rupees : 7,800

RAVENALA ATTITUDE 4* (en demi-pension)

https://hotels-attitude.com

Chambre Double                                                                            Mauritian rupees : 11,100

N.B. : A ce jour (30/11/2023) le taux de change est :

1$ = 43,65 MUR

1 euro = 47,91 MUR

MAURICIA BEACHCOMBER (en demi-pension)

https://www.beachcomber-hotels.com/en/hotel/mauricia-beachcomber

Chambre Standard pour un couple                                        euro 277

(euro 59 additionnel pour un enfant ou un ado)

N.B. : A ce jour (30/11/2023) le taux de change est :

1$ = 43,65 MUR

1 euro = 47,91 MUR

MAURICIA BEACHCOMBER (en demi-pension)

https://www.beachcomber-hotels.com/en/hotel/mauricia-beachcomber

Chambre Standard                                                                        euro 277

(euro 59 additionnel pour un enfant ou un ado)

Vous trouverez ci-joint le programme non définitif des sorties prévues. Elles ne sont pas obligatoires. Les restaurants choisis pour ces journées de sortie coûteront entre Rs 1 000 et Rs 2 000.

Important : Vous pouvez aussi souhaiter, comme l’a évoqué le trésorier de notre association, Alain de Chazal, choisir vous-même votre hébergement, via Booking.com ou Airbnb par exemple. Certaines agences de voyage proposent aussi des prix parfois avantageux pour des séjours, vol inclus. Dans ce cas vous devrez vous rendre le matin par vos propres moyens à l’un des deux hôtels d’où partiront les bus.

Nous attendons donc dans l’immédiat vos déclarations d’intention à : [email protected]

Avec nos remerciements.

Le Comité

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear friends,

As you all know, our family reunion—Chazfest Mauritius 2024—will be held from October 19^thto October 27^th. All descendants of Régis de Chazal (1735-1772) and their families are invited. A strong participation is expected for this major event.

In order to accurately determine the cost of each outing, we need to know if you plan on attending this Chazfest, as well as the events that will take place before that special day. Your answer will not, at this stage, bind you; but you will be asked to confirm your presence later on.

Enclosed is a map showing the location of each hotel as well as the places we plan to visit. For more details you can find them all on Google Earth.

Below are the preferential hotel rates obtained by our association:

Hotel Rates

HOTEL CASUARINA 3*  (maximum of 3 – half-board)

https://www.hotel-casuarina.com

Privilege Sea View Room                                            EUR 126 /couple

(additional EUR 63 for a teenager or additional EUR 42 for a child)

Bungalow (max 4 pax)                   EUR 188

(B&B supplement: EUR 8/adult and EUR 5/child)

(half-board supplement: EUR 10/adult and EUR 8/child)

HOTEL VERANDA GRAND BAIE 4* (half-board  for 2 adults, 2 kids under 12)

https://www.veranda-resorts.com

Flat                                                                                       EUR 214

(additional EUR 37 per child)

COIN DE MIRE ATTITUDE 3* (half-board, free for infants and kids under 6)

https://hotels-attitude.com

Double Room                                                                   Mauritian rupees : 7,800

RAVENALA ATTITUDE 4* (half-board)

https://hotels-attitude.com

Double Room                                                                   Mauritian rupees : 11,100

N.B. : The exchange rates were as follows on November 30th 2023:

1$ = 43,65 MUR

1 euro = 47,91 MUR

MAURICIA BEACHCOMBER (Half-board)

https://www.beachcomber-hotels.com/en/hotel/mauricia-beachcomber

Standard Room for a couple                                      EUR 277

(additional EUR 59 for a child or a teenager)

N.B. : The exchange rates were as follows on November 30th 2023:

1$ = 43,65 MUR

1 euro = 47,91 MUR

Enclosed is the proposed programme for this special week—it is subject to change and is not obligatory. The prices for the restaurants on those days will vary between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000.

Important: As proposed by our treasurer—Alain de Chazal—, to choose your own accommodation—for example, via Booking.com or Airbnb. Some travel agencies also offer sometimes advantageous prices for stays, flights included. In this case you will have to go in the morning by your own means to one of the two hotels from which the buses will depart.

We would be grateful if you could send us your declaration of intent without delay to this mail address: [email protected]

Thank you,

The Committee

Queridos amigos,

Como sabéis, la reunión de nuestra familia, Chazfest Mauritius 2024, se celebrará del 19 al 27 de octubre. Están invitados todos los descendientes de Régis de Chazal (1735-1772) y sus familias. Se espera una grande participación para este gran evento.

Para poder determinar con precisión el costo de cada salida, nos gustaría saber rápidamente su intención de participar en este Chazfest y en los cinco días del evento. Esta declaración de intención no le compromete en este momento. Su compromiso final será confirmado más adelante.

El siguiente mapa le permite localizar los dos hoteles ofertados y los lugares que vamos a visitar cada día. Para más detalles podéis encontrarlos todos en Google Earth.

En cuanto a los hoteles, nuestra asociación ha obtenido precios preferenciales : 

Precios Hoteles: 

HOTEL CASUARINA 3*  (media pensión, máximo de 3 personas por cuarto)

https://www.hotel-casuarina.com

Chambre Privilège con vista sobre el mar               126 EUR por una pareja

(63 EUR extra por adolescente o 42 EUR extra por niño)

Bungalow (máximo de 4 personas)                          188 EUR

(desayuno 8 EUR por adulto y 5 EUR por niño)

(media pensión, 10 EUR por adulto, 8 EUR por niño)

HOTEL VERANDA GRAND BAIE 4* (2 adultos, 2 niños menores de 12 años en media pensión)

https://www.veranda-resorts.com

Apartamento                                                            214 EUR

(37 EUR extra por niño)

COIN DE MIRE ATTITUDE 3* (media pensión, niños menores de 6 años gratis)

https://hotels-attitude.com

Cuarto Doble                                                             7,800 Mauritian Rupees

RAVENALA ATTITUDE 4* (media pensión)

https://hotels-attitude.com

Cuarto Doble                                                                 11,100 Mauritian Rupees

N.B. : el cambio es el siguiente (30/11/2023):

1$ = 43,65 MUR

1 euro = 47,91 MUR

MAURICIA BEACHCOMBER (media pensión)

https://www.beachcomber-hotels.com/en/hotel/mauricia-beachcomber

Cuarto standard para un pareja                                           277 EUR

(59 EUR extra para un niño o adolescente)

Importante: Como menciona el tesorero de nuestra asociación, Alain de Chazal, también podéis elegir vuestro propio alojamiento, por ejemplo a través de Booking.com o Airbnb. Algunas agencias de viajes también ofrecen muy buenos precios, vuelos incluidos. En este caso tendrían que ir por la mañana por sus propios medios a uno de los dos hoteles desde donde saldrán los autobuses.

Adjunto es el programa no definitivo de salidas. No son una obligación. Los precios para el restaurante durante las salidas variarán entre 1.000 y 2.000 rupias.

Por lo tanto, estamos a la espera de sus declaraciones de intención por: [email protected]

Con nuestro agradecimiento,

El Comité

Booking form Chazfest 2024-2

Carte annotée 10

 Le comité de l’association « Les descendants de Régis de Chazal, (1735-1772) » s’est réuni le samedi 15 avril chez François de Grivel à Saint-Antoine.  (Neuf générations plus tard la postérité de Régis compte plus de sept mille personnes dont probablement un millier vivant aujourd’hui à travers le monde.)

L’ordre du jour de notre réunion était  essentiellement consacré à finaliser le programme du prochain CHAZFEST MAURITIUS 2024. Cependant en préambule, nous avons tenu à rendre un hommage appuyé à Jacques de Chazal, actuellement doyen de notre famille, qui fêtera ses 103 ans le 7 juin prochain.  Toujours actif Jacques, qui habite la France, vient d’adhérer à l’association des descendants de Régis de Chazal en lui faisant un don généreux. Il apprécie l’esprit de notre famille qui reste attaché à son nom et considère que c’est une œuvre de mémoire que de s’en souvenir.