Discover Grand Port

Mahébourg: Museum and Maritime History

Grand Port offers two named places to explore its cultural history: Mahébourg and Vieux Grand Port. In Mahébourg, the National History Museum is set in a park of about 12 acres on the banks of the River La Chaux. The museum displays numerous objects relating to corsairs and the Battle of Grand Port. Its riverside setting and the maritime focus of its collection give the museum a distinctive character.

The exhibits have a special connection to seafaring history: most come from the wrecks of La Magicienne and HMS Sirius. Both were British frigates that sank in Mahébourg Bay in 1810. Along with the objects relating to corsairs and the Battle of Grand Port, the shipwrecks make maritime history a central theme of the collection. The names of the two frigates and the location where they sank connect the exhibits with Mahébourg Bay.

Vieux Grand Port: Traces of History

The historic site of Vieux Grand Port offers a different way to explore the district’s past. It includes the ruins of the first Catholic church, built by Mahé de Labourdonnais in 1737, and a powder house dating from the French period, 1722 to 1810. The church and powder house represent different types of built heritage at the site; their recorded dates span from the 18th century to the end of the French period.

The Frederik Hendrik Museum serves as an interpretation centre for the historic site of Vieux Grand Port. It opened on 27 May 1999. The District Council of Grand Port lists the museum in Old Grand Port among the district’s attractions. To find your way around, it helps to distinguish between the names: Vieux Grand Port is the historic site, and the Frederik Hendrik Museum is its interpretation centre.

More Facets of Mauritius

In the wider travel destination of Mauritius, Blue Bay Marine Park offers a natural perspective. It is in the southeast of Mauritius, covers 353 hectares, and has been listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention since 31 January 2008. The park is home to diverse and abundant marine flora and fauna, particularly coral reefs.

The cultural landscape of Le Morne is also part of the wider travel destination of Mauritius. It lies at the southwestern tip of the island and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on 10 July 2008. Le Morne illustrates the history of slavery in Mauritius and the pursuit of freedom in the 17th and 18th centuries. The mountain served as a fortress and refuge for escaped enslaved people; physical and oral evidence attests to this use. Alongside Grand Port’s maritime history, it offers another, distinct historical perspective on Mauritius.

Bras d’Eau National Park offers another view of the landscape: it covers 497.2 hectares and is planted mostly with mahogany, araucaria, tecoma and eucalyptus. Mare Sarcelle is part of the national park and is home to mangroves, native plant species and several migratory bird species. The Coq des Bois Trail passes through the forest and ends at Mares Chevrettes. For nature lovers, forest, mangroves and birdlife are the distinct aspects of the landscape to enjoy here.

Travel around Mauritius can also be considered island-wide: bus services run in various regions and allow journeys to almost all parts of the island. Check current routes and timetables for your specific journey. Dhollpuri and Roti, two favourite dishes of Mauritians, are part of the local culinary tradition.

Discover more destinations: Maheboug, Blue Bay, Pointe D'esny, Union Vale, Plaine Magnien, Mare D Albert, Le Bouchon, Savanne.

View the wider travel guide: Mauritius.