Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
charming plantation home and museum. Visitors looking for retail therapy will also enjoy
an afternoon of snooping around the local markets and factory outlets.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
HIKING THE CENTRAL PLATEAU
The mountain ranges fringing the Central Plateau offer a variety of memorable rambles and hikes. Two of the best
introductions to hiking in Mauritius are
Le Pouce
(812m), a thumb-shaped peak on the plateau's northern edge,
and
Corps de Garde
(719m), a wedge-like ridge to the southwest that makes for a slightly more challenging en-
deavour.
Both hikes offer resplendent views down to the coastal plains, but are best appreciated when tackled with a loc-
al guide who can annotate the hike with detailed information about the local flora and history. If you decide to go
at it alone, check out
www.fitsy.com
,
a brilliant website that has mapped out the walks with extensive GPS and
satellite detail. For planning purposes, allow about two hours for each hike if you're starting at the trailhead.
Getting There & Around
The Central Plateau towns are serviced by frequent bus connections with Port Louis. Oth-
er useful routes include the direct services between Quatre Bornes and Flic en Flac, on the
west coast, and between Curepipe and Mahébourg, to the southeast; the latter service
passes via the airport.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Père Laval's Shrine
OFFLINE MAP
The
shrine
( 242 2129; 8.30am-noon & 1-4.45pm Mon-Sat, 10am-noon & 1-4pm Sun)
of the French
Catholic priest and missionary Père Jacques Désiré Laval is something of a Lourdes of the
Indian Ocean, with many miracles attributed to visits to the priest's grave. The padre died
in 1864 and was beatified in 1979 during a visit by Pope John Paul II. He is credited with
converting 67,000 people to Christianity during his 23 years in Mauritius.
Today Père Laval is a popular figure for Mauritians of all religions. Pilgrims come here
from as far afield as South Africa, Britain and France to commemorate the anniversary of
his death on 9 September. Notice the coloured plaster effigy of the priest on top of the
tomb - it's been rubbed smooth by miracle-wishing pilgrims.
At other times of year the shrine is fairly quiet, though the services held on Friday at
1pm and 5pm attract a reasonable crowd. In the same complex is a large modern church
