Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BEST COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE
The following colonial-era mansions are all open to the public and well worth visiting. Apart from the buildings'
innate historical and aesthetic values, visiting them makes a statement that these are places of beauty
and
value,
which may just lead to more of them being preserved.
»
Eureka (
Click here
), Moka
»
Government House (
Click here
), Port Louis
»
Chateau Labourdonnais (
Click here
), Mapou
»
National History Museum (
Click here
)
, Mahébourg
»
Hôtel de Ville (
Click here
), Curepipe
»
Le Jardin de Beau Vallon (
Click here
)
, Near Mahébourg
»
Domaine des Aubineaux (
Click here
)
, Curepipe
»
St Aubin (
Click here
), Rivière des Anguilles
»
Le Chateau Restaurant (
Click here
)
, Bel Ombre
CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
A few attempts at daring contemporary structures have been made but the most prestigi-
ous in recent times has been Port Louis' Caudan Waterfront development. Given its loca-
tion at the very heart of the capital, the architects decided to incorporate elements of the
traditional architecture found around nearby Place d'Armes. Further inspiration came
from the nearby stone-and-steel dockyard buildings to provide another link with the past.
Plans are now underway, although they have stalled in recent years, to build a Caudan-like
complex in sleepy Mahébourg, and the country's first luxury yacht port, La Balise Marina,
is planned in Black River.
VISUAL ARTS
Historically, Mauritian artists took their lead from what was happening in Europe and, in
particular, France. Some of the 18th- and 19th-century engravings and oils of Mauritian
landscapes you see could almost be mistaken for Europe. The classical statue of Paul and
Virginie in Port Louis' Blue Penny Museum (
Click here
)
and the one of King Edward VII
at the city's Champ de Mars Racecourse (
Click here
)
were both created by Mauritius'
best-known sculptor, Prosper d'Épinay.
In the 20th century, the surrealist writer and painter Malcolm de Chazal injected a bit of
local colour into the scene. Inspired by the island's prolific nature, his paintings are full of
light and energy. You'll see numerous copies of the
Blue Dodo
and other Chazal works
