Père Laval's Shrine

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Lonely Planet review

The shrine of the French Catholic priest and missionary Père Jacques Désiré Laval is something of a Lourdes of the Indian Ocean, with many miracles attributed to visits to the priest's grave. The padre died in 1864 and was beatified in 1979 during a visit by Pope John Paul II. He is credited with converting 67,000 people to Christianity during his 23 years in Mauritius.

Today Père Laval is a popular figure for Mauritians of all religions. Pilgrims come here from as far afield as South Africa, Britain and France to commemorate the anniversary of his death on 9 September. The coloured plaster effigy of the priest that lies on top of the tomb has been rubbed smooth in places by pilgrims touching it in the hope of miracle cures.

At other times of year the shrine is fairly quiet, though the services held on Friday at and attract a reasonable crowd. In the same complex is a large modern church and a shop with a permanent exhibition of Père Laval's robe, mitre, letters and photographs.

To get to the shrine, take a bus signed 'Cité La Cure' or 'Père Laval' from the Immigration Square bus station in Port Louis.