Summer, sun, beach and sea, in Mauritius you get it all with tropical temperatures and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. But when it comes to Mauritius, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a beach holiday, because the island state in the southwest of the Indian Ocean has a lot more to offer. The capital, Port Louis, has some must-see sights. With about 175,000 inhabitants, the city is the center of the state par excellence. So we will be happy to tell you which spots you have to travel to and what you have to pay attention to.
Get to know the origins
The town of Aapravasi Ghat is of central importance for Mauritius, as many of the inhabitants are of Indian origin. It is assumed that the first settlers set foot on the island at this place and thus laid a foundation stone. Economic sales in Mauritius started with the cultivation of sugar cane. From 1834 onwards, Aapravasi Ghat was considered the central levy location for this economically important business. Nowadays, this location is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There you will learn many things about colonialism, because at that time many immigrants from the British colonies came to Mauritius. An interesting piece of history that you should not miss!
Colorful, colorful, Mauritius
When you think of Mauritius, you immediately think of an image that counts as one of the figureheads of Mauritius par excellence, namely the colorful umbrellas above the market. These can be found on the Caudant Waterfront, at the harbor district. There you stroll along a beautiful promenade, where many small shops, restaurants, cafés and more have settled. From there you can watch the many ships, including impressive yachts, that enter or leave the harbour every day. An absolute must is the “Umbrella Square”. There, the many colorful umbrellas float above your heads. It is one of the most popular photo motifs ever and looks simply stunning. Be sure to see this spectacle!
Experience past times up close
An equally important part of Mauritius’ culture are the many museums that explore the island’s rich history. Among other things, you will discover a department in the Natural History Museum that teaches the animal and plant past and present. Depictions of long-extinct animal species can be explored here. Why did they become extinct, who was responsible? How long did you live here and which relatives still live on the island today? What about the flora and fauna? All these questions and many more will be answered at the Natural History Museum.
No less interesting and just as famous is the Blue Penny Museum. In 1847, the so-called “Blue Penny” was printed. This is a stamp. This was made for the occasion of a masked ball in the building of the then government and is exhibited there. You are probably wondering what is so special about this stamp. Well, quite simply: only a limited number of 500 pieces of this brand were produced. Of these 500 brands, only five unique pieces exist worldwide today. Nowadays, a stamp is worth at least 650,000 euros. A stamp worth well over €650,000? You have to see something like this!
Racing as you only know it from movies
No other sport has such a cult status on the island of Mauritius as horse racing. You can experience this up close at the Champ de Mars racecourse. The inhabitants love their sport and actively cheer along. Every weekend, more than 30,000 people travel to the racecourse and bet on the racehorses. For some people, it’s just a place where they meet their friends again and again and spend some time together. Still others watch the spectacle to soak up the unique atmosphere. Don’t miss this spectacle and visit the Champ de Mars racecourse!
Lively, bustling and multi-layered
The Central Market in Port Louis offers everything that makes Mauritius special: colourful variety, exotic fruits, spices and vegetables and genuine craftsmanship, which is still passionately practiced in the many small shops. These small handicraft masterpieces are ideal to take home as a small souvenir or souvenir. It may overwhelm you at first, but feel free to go for it. The wild confusion, the many bright colors and the masses of people running around are like from another world. It’s just fascinating and a bit scary at the same time. The Central Market is a place you can’t forget on your trip to Mauritius!
Result
Port Louis in Mauritius has so much to offer that you won’t be able to marvel at it all in a single day. Take the time to enjoy everything in peace. Learn from the exciting history, immerse yourself in the wild crowd of the market and let the impressive culture work its magic on you. There are so many things to discover, so many supposedly small places to marvel at. You should experience Port Louis consciously, get fully involved and you will have an unforgettable holiday.
