Estate Living Digital Publication Issue 3 March 2015 | Page 53

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Marvellous Mauritius

de France to the modern day and enjoy
the thrills of a theme park, rides in horsedrawn carriages, a miniature railway, a
working replica of a traditional ox-driven
sugar mill, a rum distillery producing
the estate’s own brew, a sensuous spice
garden, a quad-biking circuit, museum
and a children’s playground, as well as
3000 acres of stunning landscape and
four restaurant houses.
Further inland, the rich and diverse
colonial history of the city is even more
evident at the Place D’ rmes, or the
A
main town centre. Dating back to the
18th century, buildings such as the
Government House exemplify typical
Frenchcolonialarchitecture.Influencedby
strong colonial style, the tangles of streets
and ethnic quarters have preserved
a wonderful selection of traditional
houses encompassing basic wood, with
shuttered windows and typically large
verandas or porches. The Fort Adelaide
was a citadel built during the reign of
William IV and boasts a great view of the

rest of the city, whilst Le Reduit, situated
in the south of Port Louis, is the home
of previous French governors and offers
stunning well-manicured gardens. A little
outside the port is the quaint area of
Mahebourg. Located on the Vieux Grand
Port, this is technically the oldest part of
Mauritius and has a beautiful old French
house dating back to the 18th century
that is now used as a historic museum,
as well as an artist village located in the
museum gardens, built in historic Creole
architecture.
As the most populous city, the 150, 000plus inhabitants of Port Louis are an
ethnically diverse mix, with no official
religion or national language recorded.
Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Chinese
live, work and enjoy a wonderfully
relaxed lifestyle together and speak a
combination of French, English and
Creole. Food is an eclectic mix of these
varying cultures, creating a kaleidoscope
of popular dishes from Africa, Asia,
Europe and China. A vast expansion of

the tourism industry in the late 1990s has
led to considerable development in Port
Louis, with an abundance of shops, hotels
and restaurants being built in the Caudan
Waterfront area, as well as local crafts,
spice markets and live entertainment
areas. Foreign investors enjoy a strong
sense of security, financial stability, a solid
legal framework, political stability and
favourable legislation.
Sandwiched between the Indian Ocean
and a stunning mountain silhouette,
Port Louis successfully marries aspects
of Mauritian modernity with authentic
tradition and is a hub of political, cultural
and economic activity. Fresh, clean air,
sunshine that warms the heart and a
seamless blend of cultures creates a
deliciously sooth