If you’re planning a trip to Mauritius, make sure to include these historical sites on your itinerary and learn more about these ancient civilizations’ enigmatic and mystifying facts.
1. Baie De l’Arsenal Or Arsenal Bay
The ruins of a French arsenal may be discovered in Arsenal Bay, which is located in the country’s northwestern corner. The village of Arsenal, one of Mauritius’ lesser-known historical sites, was home to a French foundry that produced cannons and other military supplies. However, in 1774, it was damaged by an explosion that killed approximately 300 slaves. If you stay at Hotel Maritim, you may go around the grounds and see the remains.
2. La Route Du Thé (Bois Cheri)
One of the three most significant sites on La Route du Thé is Bois Cheri, a well-known tea estate. These tea gardens are roughly 250 hectares in size and are located about 12 kilometers from the famed Rivière des Anguilles. You can book a tour of the premises to learn more about the plantation’s history and operation, making it one of Mauritius’ must-see historical sites.
There is also an exhibition area here, which showcases the location’s centuries of history. You can sample teas at the end of the trip.
3. St. Aubin House
The plantation of St. Aubin, one of Mauritius’ most historically significant sites, dates back over 200 years. In the 1970s, the factory was relocated, and the estate no longer sells sugar. The lawns of this massive house, however, are now home to a rum distillery. There’s also a vanilla house, a spice garden, and a tropical garden. On your tour of the house and its various elements, including the famed sugar factory, you will be escorted by a guide. The five-course Mauritian lunch, which features palm, mango, and pineapple, also helps to establish the tone.
4. Beau Plan Sugar Mill
The Beau Plan, another sugar plant that now functions as a museum, is on every list of Mauritius’ best historical sites. The story of sugar is intertwined with the island’s history, the rum trade, and the practice of slavery in this exhibition.
The tour will last between two and three hours. The factory was founded in 1797 and closed in 1999, just before the turn of the century. The museum also features movies and interactive sessions where you may learn more about the location’s history. Oh, and at the end of the trip, everyone gets to sample approximately fifteen different types of sugar, all of which were invented in Mauritius.
5. Martello Tower
The five towers were built by the British in the 1800s to safeguard their colony from the French, who were allegedly attempting to inspire slave revolts. The tower at La Preneuse has been converted into a museum where experts explain the towers’ amazing architecture. These towers are said to be three meters tall and equipped with copper cannons with a range of roughly two kilometers.
6. Eureka House
Built as a stately mansion in the early 1800s, this location is now a museum that gives visitors a glimpse into the country’s colonial past. The house itself has tropical qualities, with 109 doors and a huge number of rooms to keep the property cool even in the hottest summers. The property includes servant quarters and kitchens, as well as antiquities, furniture, and maps dating back to the French East India Company. Without a doubt, this is the one historical structure in Mauritius that you should not miss!
7. Le Morne
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the site is unquestionably one of Mauritius’ most well-known historical sites. It is merely a mountain located southwest of the island that once afforded refuge to a number of slaves who dared to flee their masters. Because of the difficult and inaccessible terrain, the slaves who escaped formed their own communities and resided in the caverns. The site serves as a powerful reminder of their fight for freedom and the indomitable human spirit.
8. Matthew Flinders Monument
This is one of Mauritius’ few historical monuments, having been built only 15 years ago in 2003. The site honors Matthew Flinders, an English cartographer, and explorer who was the first to recognize Australia as a continent. It celebrates his entrance in the country two hundred years ago. Interestingly, he was imprisoned for six years when he first came on the island because England and France were at war.
9. Citadel Fort
This military structure, sometimes known as Fort Adelaide, was constructed by the British in the nineteenth century. From the summit, you may get a bird’s eye view over the capital, Port Louis, as well as the harbor. The former barracks have been transformed into businesses where you may purchase souvenirs.
