Mauritius - Port Louis

Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius and the island’s commercial and administrative centre. The visitor will be able to get an insight view of Mauritian society. In Port Louis he will meet busy business men, shopping women and promenading families of every ethnic background. A visit of the town is one of the highlights of every vacation in Mauritius.

The highlights:

The central market
The central market is a honeypot for tourists in the capital. After a fire some years ago the market was fully renovated and today it attracts visitors and Mauritians to the same extend. A colourful sight: fruits and vegetables pile up in large pyramides, salesmen court the customer’s attention, people merchandise in all languages of the island. In a second market building you will find mainly souvenirs, such as t-shirts, beach towels or baskets made of bast.
Photos of Port-Louis


Caudan Waterfront
Since 1998 Caudan Waterfront is one of the tourist highlights in Port Louis. In the amusement centre you will find numerous shops, restaurants, a five-star-hotel and a casino. Thus Caudan Waterfront invites for shopping, dining or a promenade. At the dock the visitor can take a look at the splendid yachts or even go on a harbour cruise from here.
Photos of Port-Louis 

Blue Penny Museum
In the year 2001 the Blue Penny Museum opened up in Caudan Waterfront. It commits itself to the history of the famous Post Office stamp.
Photos of Port-Louis

Post Museum
Close to the harbour one can find the post museum. Here the visitor can take a look at replicas of the famous Post Office stamp. Furthermore, he will find other stamps, postboxes, postmarks and franking machines.
Photos of Port-Louis

Museum of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History is to be found in a pretty yellow colonial villa next to the park Jardin de la Compagnie. Since 1831 exhibits of all fields of natural science are collected there. The star of the exhibition is the dodo, the heraldic animal of Mauritius. The ratite bird was eradicated during the 17th century by Dutch settlers. His skeleton can be visited in the museum. Furthermore, the visitor can take a look at birds, corals, shells, butterflies and other animals which are to be found on the island.
Photos of Port-Louis
 

Fort Adelaide
Fort Adelaide offers a wonderful panoramic view over the capital. The fortress was built by the British in 1840. Today it is a popular spot for open-air concerts.
Photos of Port-Louis

Champs de Mars
Horseracing is a sport that elates great parts of the Mauritian population. During the weekends up to 20,000 visitors crowd on the race-course and try to make the big money while betting. The holidaymaker in Mauritius shouldn’t miss out this spectacle. Furthermore, Champs de Mars is the oldest race-course in the southern hemisphere and even the second oldest of the world after Turkey.
Photos of Port-Louis

Thien Thane Pagode
The octagonal Chinese pagoda offers a picturesque view. In its interior splendid red and golden decoration and thick clouds of incense await the visitor. On the altars the believers deliver oblations to their gods and their ancestors.
Photos of Port-Louis 

Jummah-Mosque
The Jummah-Mosque transfers a bit of the world of Thousand and one-Nights to Mauritius’ capital. In the magnificent white building with its decorated towers the believers come together five times per day to do their prayers.
Photos of Port-Louis 

Chinatown
All around the street Rue Dr. Sun Yat Sen the visitor will find the centre of Chinese life in Mauritius. Small shops and boutiques which offer typical Chinese goods, e.g. traditional cures, await the visitor. Asian scriptures, pictures and restaurants diffuse a touch of Asia in Port Louis.
Photos of Port-Louis

Government House
The Government House, the most important building of the political life in Mauritius, was built by Mahé de Labourdonnais in 1740. In the court of honour a statue of the British Queen Victoria reminds of the Mauritian history and some huge flamboyant trees offer some shadow.
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Municipal Theatre
The neoclassical building captivates with its architecture. The glorious times, when balls, concerts and performances took place here every night are over. Today you can visit a theatre performance if you like.
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St.- Louis-Cathedral
The St.-Louis-Cathedral is one of the island’s oldest buildings. In the past the edifice was destroyed by the forces of nature several times. The present building is a reconstruction of the year 1932. Nearby the visitor will find some other impressing colonial buildings which revive the past of the city.
Photos of Port-Louis 

Worldwide Mask Museum
The Worldwide Mask Museum is a private museum, in which masks from all over the world are presented. Sometimes a colourful presentation is given, during which the masks come alive.
Photos of Port-Louis