Port Louis attractions

Although dedicated to the world-famous Mauritian one-penny and two-pence stamps of 1847, the Blue Penny Museum is far more wide-ranging than its name suggests, taking in the history of the island's exploration, sett…

The shrine of French Catholic priest and missionary Père Jacques-Désiré Laval is something of a Lourdes of the Indian Ocean, with many miracles attributed to pilgrimages here. The padre died in 1864 and was beatifie…

Port Louis' rightly famous Central Market, the centre of the local economy since Victorian times, is a good place to get a feel for local life, watch the hawkers at work and buy some souvenirs. Most authentic are th…

Aapravasi Ghat, a small complex of buildings located on the seafront, served as the island's main immigration depot for indentured labourers from India. Some of the original stone buildings remain, with displays on …

This small but engaging museum, down a cobbled lane opposite the Municipal Theatre, is the labour of love of local photographer Tristan Bréville. He's amassed a treasure trove of old cameras and prints, including se…

This interesting museum beside the Central Post Office houses a mishmash of commemorative stamps and other postal paraphernalia from around the world. One exhibit details the history of the Mauritius post using a ri…

The major attraction at this small museum – which was closed for much-needed renovations when we visited – used to be the famous reconstruction of a dodo. But with the museum closed, the dodo has been moved to Mahéb…

The city's most imposing boulevard, Place d'Armes is lined with royal palms and leads up to Government House, a beautiful French-colonial structure dating from 1738. Outside there's a typically solemn statue of Quee…

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…

One of Mauritius' premier art institutions, this fine space is designed to increase local exposure to high-quality art. There are four temporary exhibitions per year, and it's overseen by Salim Currimjee, who former…