Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ghetti bolognaise and beef burgers. Don't forget your mozzie repellent - you won't be the
only one feasting at the lunch table.
La Vanille lies around 2km south of Rivière des Anguilles and is clearly signposted in
the town.
St Aubin
OFFLINE MAP
HISTORIC BUILDING
( 626 1513;
www.saintaubin.mu
;
admission without/with restaurant set menu Rs 450/1100; 8am-4pm Mon-Sat)
If you're following La Route du Thé, then the final stop after Bois Chéri is St Aubin, an
elegant plantation house that dates back to 1819; it originally sat alongside the factory but
was moved in the 1970s so that its owner could get a quieter night's sleep. The estate no
longer produces sugar, but in the gardens of the house there is a traditional rum distillery
and a nursery growing anthurium flowers and vanilla - you'll learn all about the fascinat-
ing history of vanilla production on the guided tour.
The height of the St Aubin experience is a meal at the wonderfully charming
table d'hôte
(mains Rs 375-1250; noon-3pm)
in the main manor house. The dining room is one of best
throwbacks to colonial times - dainty chandeliers cast ambient light over the white table-
cloths and antique wooden furniture. The set menu showcases the fruits of the plantation:
hearts of palm, pineapple, mango and chilli, to name a few. Reservations are recommen-
ded.
board Rs 2200-3200; )
has three rooms in the plantation manse across from the estate's main
building. The bedroom at the front of the house perfectly captures the charming colonial
ambience with creaky wooden floors and cotton gauzing over the four-poster bed - the
two rooms in the back are noticeably more modern and have a bit less character.
La Vallée des Couleurs
OFFLINE MAP
NATURAL LANDMARK
( 251 8666;
www.lavalleedescouleurs.com
; Mare Anguilles; adult/child Rs 250/125; 9am-5pm)
Despite
having 23 colours, as opposed to seven at Chamarel (
Click here
)
, La Vallée des Couleurs
is the less impressive of the island's two 'coloured earths'. The reserve does, however,
have a scenic nature trail that passes some trickling waterfalls, memorable vistas, crawling
tortoises and blossoming tropical flowers. It takes about an hour to complete the reserve's
circuit.
