Cap Malheureux

The northern edge of Mauritius has stunning views out to the islands off the coast, most obviously the dramatic headland of Coin de Mire. Although it feels like rather a backwater today, Cap Malheureux (Cape Misfortune; named for the number of ships that foundered on its rocks) is a place of great historical importance for Mauritius: it was here that the British invasion force finally defeated the French in 1810 and took over the island. A little past the cape lies the minuscule, picturesque fishing village also known as Cap Malheureux.