Port Louis City of Mauritius
Pope Hennessy Street is named after one of the most appreciated Governors of the island during the British occupation period, and Sir Pope Hennessy reigned as governor between 1883 and 1889. If taken at full straight length, this street comprises of 3 sections; Pope Hennessy Street, Jules Koenig Street and Intendance Street, for a total …
Converting the primitive harbour that the first French settlers knew into a civilized port, was no mean achievement for Mahé de La Bourdonnais. That metamorphosis was the result of the joint efforts of European sailors, Lascar seamen from India and African slaves. A navigable channel was marked out to facilitate the entrance of ships in …
The very first postal service in Mauritius dates back to 1772, when the island was under French rule. At that time slaves were used to deliver letters to their respective recipients. There were no physical building to serve that purpose but just the service of delivering letters to other recipients. However, it fell into disuse …
Bicycle racing in Mauritius dates back since the early 20th century. These events are very popular back in those days and participants during such occasions are quite a lot too. Bicycle racing are organized every year now and the categories vary depending on the bicycle types also. In the beginning mostly road bicycles were involved …
The Remains of Old Port Louis have till today been a subject of fascination to many, especially photographers, who find a way or another to reveal the extra-ordinary out of the ordinary. Old Churches, Colonial Houses, Maisons Creoles, Old Chinese Shops, Ruins of British-occupation… From a different point of view, Port Louis viewed from an …
The Mauritian Sea and territories counts the unfortunate events of over 600 ship wrecks in its naval history and this one is among the many that didn’t manage to reach safe port, the ship wreck of the SS Tayeb Cargo ship. The dramatic event occured on the 12th of February 1972 after the passage of …
This little island in the Indian Ocean, small as it appears on a world map, Mauritius, has had some many interesting visits throughout its history, and this ranging from: famous poets and writers (Charles Baudelair, Mark Twain etc), well-known navigators (La Perouse, Livingstone, Bougainville etc), Royal visits (Duke of Edimbourg, Duke of Manchester, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Princess …
The Port Louis City Hall that we can see today (2014) was constructed in 1965 and replaced the old Colonial building known as “Hotel D’Europe”. The idea of creating a municipal corporation in Port Louis started in the 1820s and among those who emphasized on establishing such an institution were Adrien D’Epinay and Rémy Ollier. …
Port Louis was already in use as a harbor in 1638. On the 20th September 1715, Guillaume Dufresne d’Arsel took possession of the island in the name of the King of France. A first batch of 16 Frenchmen and some slaves under the command of Julien Le Toullec du Rongouet were sent off from the Isle …
Cyclones in Mauritius are very common due to the island’s geographical location in the tropics. Summer months are very prone to such occurings and as we already know, they are both beneficial as well as unwanted. Before the 20th century, Cyclones were very unwelcomed since they nearly always had devastating effects on the island; we …
Mauritius, being a tropical island in the Indian Ocean, is known for its beautiful climate and sandy beaches. The climatic aspect of the country is emphasized by its warm and dry winter from May to November, and hot and wet humid summer from November to May. Anti-cyclones affect the island from May to September and …
Starting in front of the Government House up to China Town, Royal Street is among the most famous streets in Port Louis due to the number of commercial buildings and others. Starting in front of the Government House, this street is now a one-way traffic towards Plaine Verte and famous buildings like The Mauritius Commercial …
Saint Louis Cathedral in Port Louis is among the oldest church in Mauritius. Built in 1814/15 and promoted to Cathedral in 1847, the church is the final works of Governor Sir Robert Farquar. The site of the church was however identified in the years 1750s sometimes after the departure of Mahe de La Bourdonnais, who …
After having already written about Place D’Armes and Labourdonnais Square, it is still amazing to discover how the routine of people back then diversed considerably. Among the different methods of transport, the Place D’Armes was quite famous for its ‘taxi’ stand at that time driven by animals, carriages would ensure displacement within the town and …
Place D’Armes, which extends between the Government House till the front of the Harbour, including the Statue of Mahe de La Bourdonnais, is considered to be the heart fo the city of Port Louis. The place is royally enclosed by tall palm trees and surrounded by old canons digged half-way in the ground. At the …
One of the busiest and principal street in Port Louis, La Chaussée was built during the French Ruling period by the engineer Tromelin on the 1st July 1779, two months after the arrival of the Governor Vicomte de Souillac. This part of Port Louis, including the ‘Jardin de la Compagnie‘ was at the beginning a marshy land …
When we take a look at the Company Garden (Jardin de la Compagnie) today and we try to compare it to what it was some hundred years ago we will immediately see the difference, both physically and emotionally. Today the garden no longer bears the same feeling of the time, nor has a soul as …
HMS Intrepid was one of two Fearless class amphibious warfare ships of the Royal Navy. A Landing Platform Dock (LPD), she served from 1967 until 1999. Based in HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon and HM Naval Base Portsmouth and saw service around the world over her 32 year life. In the process of being …
Desforges Street in Port Louis, named after Governor Antoine Marie Desforges Boucher (1759 – 1767) who opened this road to traffic somewhere around 1765, is now mostly known as SSR (Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam) Street, named after the father of the nation. Somehow, even this change of name, old habits remain and the street is still very much …
Most of us must have certainly heard about ‘Canal Dayot’ at Grand River North West, and this region at the suburb of Port Louis became even more popular during the flash flood of the 30th March 2013 where the water level rose so fast and high in only a few hours that many surrounding habitants …