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Trou aux Cerfs
About 1km west of central Curepipe, the Trou aux Cerfs is a dormant volcanic crater some 100m deep and 1km in circumference. The bowl is heavily wooded and from the road around the rim – a favourite spot for joggers and walkers – you get lovely views of the plateau. There are bench
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Le Jardin dEden
Appealing to a wider audience than just plant lovers and gardeners, Le Jardin dEden, across the main road from LHermitage, is definitely worth an hour or so for anyone interested in tropical flora. Sections of the gardens are dedicated to interesting concepts such as the sacred pla
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Place dArmes
The citys most imposing boulevard, Place dArmes is lined with royal palms and leads up to Government House , a beautiful French colonial structure dating from 1738. Outside theres a typically solemn statue of Queen Victoria in full we are not amused mode. The statue of Mahé de Labo
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Musée Léon Dierx
Housed in the former bishops palace, built in 1845, this museum hosts Réunions most important collection of modern art. The more high-profile works may include paintings, sculptures and ceramics by Picasso, Renoir, Gauguin and Matisse (the works exhibited change every three months)
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La Balise Marina
The billboards are everywhere – La Balise Marina promises to revolutionise the tourism industry in Mauritius by creating the islands first port welcoming luxury yachts. Construction of the marina and its adjoining complex of shops and apartments is well underway (if behind schedule
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Fort Adelaide
Fort Adelaide resembles a Moorish fortress. Built by the British, the fort sits high on the crown of a hill, offering splendid views over the city and its harbour. The old barracks have been restored and transformed into a row of intriguing boutiques – good for a few minutes of win
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La Résidence
One of the oldest buildings still standing in Port Mathurin, La Résidence dates from 1897, when it provided a fairly modest home for the British chief commissioner. Its facilities are now used as function rooms for the new Regional Assembly. As such, it is closed to the public alth
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LUnion Estate & Copra Factory
At one time, the main industry on La Digue was coconut farming, centred on LUnion Estate coconut plantation south of La Passe. These days LUnion Estate is run as an informal theme park, with demonstrations of extracting oil from copra (dried coconut flesh). Also in the grounds are
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Saint Gabriel Church
This surprisingly grand church in the middle of the island has one of the largest congregations in the Port Louis diocese. Constructed between 1936 and 1939, it was built by local volunteers who arduously lugged stone, sand and coral from all corners of the island. Christianity is
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Natural Spring
The actual trou deau douce for which the town is named can be found in a man-made stone hole next to the national coast guards office. To find the natural spring, follow the fork in the main road away from the Gothic church as it slopes down the hill to the docks – the well is on t
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Chinatown
The Chinese have traditionally occupied a quietly industrious position in the life of Port Louis. The region between the two friendship gates on Royal St forms the centre of Port Louis Chinatown. Here youll see the rich mercantile life of the hard-working Chinese community, the bus
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Conservatoire Botanique National de Mascarin
On the Route des Colimaçons, on the slopes north of St-Leu, this attractive garden is in the grounds of a 19th-century Creole mansion and contains an impressive collection of native plant species, all neatly labelled, as well as many from around the Indian Ocean. Spitting distance
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Musée du Sel & La Caverne
On the cliffs at Pointe au Sel, between St-Leu and Étang-Salé-les-Bains, this museum, housed in an old salt warehouse, traces the local salt-harvesting history. Its flanked by salt evaporation ponds. After visiting the museum, follow the path that leads to La Caverne (no sign), a
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La Route du Sel
Not quite a route like the Route du Thé, the 18th-century salt flats along the main road in Tamarin are a popular stopping point for camera-happy travellers. This is the last place in Mauritius where salt is still produced and the compulsory 15- to 20-minute guided tour takes you t
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Le Jardin du Roi
Located 2km up in the hills above Anse Royale, this lush spice garden owes its existence to Pierre Poivre, the French spice entrepreneur. There is a self-guided walk around the 35-hectare orchard-crossed-with-forest. The planters house contains a one-room museum and theres a pleasa
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Notre Dame des Laves
Notre Dame des Laves is in Piton Ste-Rose, 4.5km south of Ste-Rose. The lava flow from a 1977 eruption went through the village, split when it came to the church and reformed again on the other side. Many people see the churchs escape as a miracle of divine intervention. A wooden l
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Takamaka Viewpoint
North of St-Benoît the D53 strikes southwest, following the Rivière des Marsouins 15km upstream to end beside the Takamaka viewpoint. Be prepared to fall on your knees in awe: despite a small power plant near the viewpoint, the overwhelming impression is of a wild, virtually untouc
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Rochester Falls
Rochester Falls are by no means the countrys most spectacular falls, but they are worth a detour if youre in the area. Follow the makeshift signs from Souillac – the route is rather circuitous but reliable nonetheless, although its a rough ride along the stone-strewn track. Prepare
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Victoria 1840
Worth a look, Victoria 1840 is an old sugar mill that has been lovingly refurbished to house some of the works of Yvette Maniglier, a bewitching French painter who spent a year under the wing of Matisse. The juxtaposition of industrial brick and splashy modern art works surprisingl
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Grand Étang
Around 12km southwest of St-Benoît along the road towards Plaine-des-Palmistes, is the 3km road to Grand Étang (Big Pond). This pretty picnic spot lies at the bottom of an almost vertical ridge separating it from the Rivière des Marsouins valley. Most people simply walk around the
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