Natural Spring

Mauritius


The actual trou d'eau douce for which the town is named can be found in a human-made stone hole next to the national coastguard's office. To find the natural spring, follow the fork in the main road away from the Eglise Trou d'Eau Douce as it slopes down the hill to the docks – the well is on the right. Locals visit the stash of fresh water when the government supply gets corrupted after a strong storm.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Mauritius attractions

1. Eglise Trou d'Eau Douce

0.48 MILES

One of Maurutius' more handsome churches, this stone, Gothic structure only dates back to 1990. If the door is open, wander in and take a pew – the sense…

2. Victoria 1840

0.8 MILES

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…

3. Palmar Public Beach

2.18 MILES

Small, perfectly formed and lapped by waters a near-perfect shade of turquoise on a sunny day, this is the pick of the public beaches on Mauritius' east…

4. Sagar Shiv Mandir

6.45 MILES

This white Hindu temple sits on a teeny islet tenuously tethered to the mainland by a thin land bridge. The views of the dazzling bastion are best…

5. Vallée de Ferney

9.56 MILES

Protecting a 400-year-old forest, this reserve is an important habitat for the Mauritius kestrel, one of the world's most endangered raptors, and a visit…

7. Monument to Dutch Landing

10.04 MILES

A monument marks the site where the Dutch (and indeed the first people ever) first landed on the island on 20 September 1598. It's a fairly low-key site…

8. Monday Market

12.18 MILES

Don't miss the central foire de Mahébourg, near the waterfront. The initial focus was silks and other textiles, but these days you'll find a busy produce…