In this little village on the South-Eastern coast of the island, it seems time has stopped. Large streets that you can picture covered in cobblestone, the old buildings still made of stone and the multiple monuments you can see all remind you of the crucial role this little village has played in colonial Mauritius. The inhabitants, however, are well anchored in the present, especially after the Wakashio oil spill.
Breathe in, breathe out鈥� you are in Mah茅bourg. The scenery has changed: the streets are bigger, the buildings older, you feel and you smell the salty ocean breeze, locals, often smiling, greet each other as they ride their bikes giving you the feeling of this village being just one big family. Be ready for a trip to the past, for culture, a vacation feeling all in one village.聽
The Mahebourg Waterfront
The promenade along the Mahebourg Waterfront is a well known spot, mainly for the views on the Mouchoir Rouge island (Editor's note: Red Hankerchief island).聽
This walk along the Mahebourg coast is well known for the view on the blue lagoon and sparkling under the sun and on the island of Mouchoir Rouge. This islet which is less than 500 meters from the coast is well known for two red-roofed bungalows. The infrastructure on Mouchoir Rouge Island dates back to the 1800s and the settlements there are now privately owned.
The Mah茅bourg Waterfront also offers a breathtaking view of the Grand-Port mountain range, including the magnificent Lion Mountain which looks, as its name suggests, like a sleeping lion.
This promenade regularly hosts fairs, concerts and regattas, but it is also the meeting place for Mah茅bourgeois and visitors who come to soak up the view or enjoy "gato mervey", pickled fruits or "gla莽ons rap茅s".
Reminders of a colonial past
Before Port-Louis, Mah茅bourg was the largest port on the island. And the village was, therefore, inhabited very early on and still keeps remains of this colonial past. In fact, the village was named after Mah茅 de Labourdonnais, one of the most renowned governors of the island during the French era.
The Wash House is located not far from the Mahebourg Waterfront and dates back to the 1770s. It was used by women at the time to wash the uniforms of French soldiers who were engaged in the surveillance of the port as well as the battle of Grand-Port. It is close to La Chaux river, which guaranteed the water supply. The wash house was also used during the English era and is today preserved as a historical and cultural heritage site.
The Cavendish Bridge crosses the La Chaux river and connects Mah茅bourg to Ville Noire. The bridge was inaugurated in 1911 when the island was under Governor Cavendish's rule.
There are several other monuments on the Mah茅bourg Waterfront or at Pointe Canon which tells the story of this beautiful village, and at the same time of Mauritius.
The Naval Museum
This museum is located at the very entrance of the village. The building which shelters this history has, itself, been a first-row witness of the history of Mahebourg, it was known at the time as the castle of Gheude, a large colonial house dating back to the 1770s. This museum tells the naval history of the island and you will find ships having took part in the famous battle of Grand-Port, swords, cannons, and weapons used during this battle and other battles that took place at sea as well as a replica of the village of Mah茅bourg in the time of the French and the English.
Lunch spots in Mahebourg
Mahebourg is also renowned for its seafood. Mauritians often travel down from across the island for a 鈥渕inn bwi mangouak鈥� (Editor's note: a type of clam) or a 鈥渕inn bwi palourde鈥� (Editor's note: clam). Two of Mahebourg's most popular eateries for their minn bwi mangouak or minn bwi palourde are Chez Fran莽ois and Coin Casse Cro没te.
Fancy a swim?
After a day out exploring Mahebourg under the scorching sun, is it time for a swim? Mah茅bourg does not have a beach but beaches are never too far away, are they? Right next to Mahebourg, you will find Blue-Bay and Pointe d'Esny. Both offer a sandy beach and turquoise water, the first with a view on 脦le aux Cocos and the second with a view on 脦le aux Aigrettes and the mountain range of Grand-Port.
