| Tourist sites
Port-Louis is the capital and the
main port of Mauritius. It was founded by the French
governor François Mahé of Bourdonnais
in 1735. Its roads extend to the foot of the mountains
which protect it by circling around it like a bow. It
is a multicultural city where cathedrals, mosques, Hindu
temples and pagodas stand harmoniously one next to the
other.
The Pamplemousses Botanical Garden,
at 11 km in the north of the capital, it is well known
by all the famous botanists around the world. The garden
is named after the citrus fruit introduced on the island
by the Dutch. An important collection of indigenous
and exotics plants are grown there, like the giant water
lilies Victoria Amazonica, two hundred species of palm
trees, gilded bamboos, raffia, a two hundred years old
banyan, a talipot and a huge variety of spices , arouse
the curiosity of many people from all over the world.
The talipot palm tree is of a particular interest: it
blossoms once every sixty years just before dyeing.
The Eureka, a Creole house built on
a natural reserve in 1864. One of the most beautiful
residences of the colonial time situated at Moka. It
has more than one hundred doors and windows and splendid
furniture from the last century.
Chamarel seven colour earths is accessible
by a sinuous road starting from Case Noyale. It consists
of a hill and undulations of ground with contrast colours
in the tonalities of blue, green, red and yellow and
it is formed by volcanic ashes containing mineral oxides.
The nearby Chamarel - emerging from the moor - and the
natural vegetation are of a surprising beauty.
To travel back on time, visit - on the heights of Mahébourg
- the Rault biscuit factory founded in 1870 where cassava
biscuits are still made according to the old family
recipes.
In the south of the island, close to Rivière
des Anguilles, between bamboos, palm trees
and banana trees, you will have the joy to discover
La Vanille, Réserve des Mascareignes and its
exuberant fauna. The breeding of crocodiles, the giant
tortoises in liberty and the collections of butterflies
will charm both the young and the adults.
Located within the splendid framework of Black River,
on a surface of 25 hectares, Casela, Nature & Leisure
Park shelters more than 1 500 birds of 140 species.
Birds from five continents are found here, but the main
attraction is the ‘Pigeon des Mares’ (Pink
Pigeon), one of the rarest birds in the world.
Fish ponds, tortoises, monkeys, pheasants, leopards,
the tigers of Bengal and the ostriches are other attractions
of this place.
Domaine Les Pailles, only at ten minutes
south of Port-Louis. A colonial domain was rebuilt at
the foot of a mountain range in a natural reserve of
1500 hectares. Horse carriages or trips on the small
train are organised. You will discover the secrets of
the artisan distillation of rum. Drive in 4x4 among
the stags in liberty, rare monkeys and birds.
Trou aux Cerfs, located on the heights
of Curepipe, is the crater of an extinct volcano. The
crater is 85 meters in depth and 180 meters in length.
From the top of the crater you can have a wide view
of the island. |