Mauritius Sights

Mauritius gained fame place for recreation for elite - many luxury hotels, hundreds of miles of luxurious beaches, framed by coconut groves, the special atmosphere of the island and the charm of its inhabitants - all this attracts thousands of tourists to the island.

Port Louis is located practically on the beach at the foot of the Moka mountain range and Mount Peter-Bot (821 meters). The town is small and of particular interest to tourists is not, but still worth a visit it to look done in white and green colors Jumma Mosque (1805), the Cathedral of St James, Museum, Institute of Mauritius La chassis, Photography Museum, Postal Museum Museum, masks of Hindu-Tamil temple Maesvarat (Tirol), the original Museum of shells, sacred to Indians, the island of giant trees "pip", the Cathedral of St. Louis Street Church Street, an entertainment complex "Where the Waterfront", an old fort fort Adelaide and Mars field near its walls, picturesque Chinatown in the north of the capital and the colorful houses of the colonial era. City Center is located around the area of arms, which dominates the Government House - the official government residence. For Government House is a beautiful building of the parliament, where the meeting of the Legislative Assembly of Mauritius. Nearby, surrounded by gardens, stands the building of the National Museum. The special charm of the city gives its markets, not the cheapest in the country, but very noisy and colorful. Indoor Market Street Fakuar and bazaar at Rue de la Cordero, trade and tourist complex "Where the Waterfront", area codes and Gallery Craft Market, as well as thousands of small private traders than horrible, located practically on every corner. In the neighborhood of interest is located south of the capital property from an old distillery Pai and original museum of national life, a few charming houses Creole architecture in Moca, top Pouce (812 m) with magnificent panoramic playground, a botanical garden (25 hectares) with the "Lake of Lilies" on the former manor Governor Francois Mae, the Church of St. Francis (in 1756, the oldest church on the island) and the castle of Mont-Plaisir at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. From Port-Louis to Morne Braban paved road, on the one hand that the band stretches of beaches, on the other - the mountain plateau. Beaches near the village of Flic en Flac is just brilliant. Bay of Tamarin more wild, more pristine than the bay in other places along the coast. Because of the strong currents are not safe to swim, but for surfing is paradise.

Business center island - the city Kyurpip, one of the first towns built in Mauritius, located on the 550-meter height above sea level on the central plateau. Are concentrated embassies, large companies and luxurious mansions of the nobility. Here are noteworthy city hall, built in colonial style, King's College, reminiscent of the architecture of the facade of Buckingham Palace (1813, one of the oldest high school in those days), the town hall (1902) in the Municipality area - elegant building Creole architecture, public library, where there are interesting manuscripts relating to the history of the Mascarene Islands. There is a botanical garden, which collected a large number of tropical plants. To the west of the city is located the crater long since faded volcano Trou-au-Cerf (depth of 85 m and 200 m in diameter). At the southern entrance to the city is a small indoor market, where on weekends runs noisy fair. It also contains the majority of the workshops, are fabricated from the "visiting cards" of the island - the layout of ships. Near Kyurpipa area is luxurious villas and embassy residences Floreal. Just below lies the valley of the "market town" Rose Hill, which houses a large open market "Arab Town", a lot of shopping centers, theater La Plaza, a beautiful church and residence of the Archbishop of Port Louis.

West Coast - the most arid region of Mauritius, so it has kept almost original appearance and somewhat less frequently visited by tourists. Morne Braban - the most western tip of the island of Mauritius, which lies nonetheless only 48 km. from the capital. This is an area surprisingly beautiful landscapes, magnificent lagoons, first-class beaches and exotic nature. Flic en Flac - a favorite vacation spot Mauritians, famous for its beautiful beaches and the nearby nature reserve "Kasel-Bird Park. In the region of Flic en Flac is more than four dozen interesting places for diving - a whole field of underwater caves "Cathedral," "Snakes on the shaft, the Strait of Saint-Jacques, 4 shipwrecks at depths ranging from 20 to 40 hours, etc. About Volmar is the same name Reserve (700 hectares, opened in 1999), protecting the local fauna, as well as conducting on foot, bicycle and car trips. In the western part of the island a number of interesting natural monuments - the relic forest Makshabe (Mahabi Belomb, the largest nature reserve in Mauritius), the National Park Black River Gorge, "an island of Benito, San Pedro Bay, Mount Morne Braban (550 meters), as well as excellent sites for marine fishing. Park Riviera de Angiles allows you to see the crocodiles, giant tortoises, chameleons, monkeys, bats among lush tropical vegetation.

North Coast, from Pointe-au-Prince to Cap-aux Piments Mahler - the most visited tourist district. There is almost always sunny, but normal for these places wind "clipped" by the Central Plateau, although the terrain is practically flat. District Pointe-aux Piments (Cape spices) is interesting rocky coves, the relative calm and turquoise lagoons. Bae-o-Tortue (Turtle Bay) - this luxurious resort (although the beaches are too small). True-to-Bisch and Mont Choisy famous three-kilometer beach of pure sand. Peninsula Pointe-au-Kannon (Cape Arsenal) forms a zone of small solitary beaches, surrounded by modern resort complex. Mahébourg and Grand-Baie - the center of nightlife and shops, dozens of restaurants and sports clubs - noisy and cosmopolitan resort. To the west of Grand-Baie is a common Mont Choisy beach, which stretches along the coast to Pointe-au-Kannon. It is interesting to visit the Cape CAP Mahler (unfortunately), the landscape is more wild and almost deserted, and located here the church is considered one of the "visiting cards" of the island. Instead mountains Du Mir from the ocean rises the picturesque rocky island. Several north in the ocean is an impressive group of islands of Coin de Mir, Ile Ronde, Me-o-Serpents, Gabrielle, Ile-Plath, Ile d'Ambre and others, is a nature reserve. Here, besides the wild coast, preserved in its natural form the ecosystem of the islands, particularly popular water lagoon, perfect for diving.

South of Mauritius, less frequented by tourists than the northern part of the island, but it is this area is very picturesque, green, and the most interesting. Maeburg - a charming town built on the southeast coast of Mauritius in the beautiful bay of Grand Port in 1805 and named in honor of the Governor Mae de la bourdon. Above the bay rises the Lion Mountain, the outlines of which actually resemble a sleeping lion, close to the shore scattered small islands, one of which in 1810 was played out battle between the French and British. In the city itself, but its picturesque sleepy streets and shops, should visit the Museum of the Navy and the building in 1771, Confectionary Plant (founded in 1870), Church of Notre-Dame-des-Ange or an old cemetery where the ashes of the first French colonists. Wonderful lagoon and beautiful sandy beach lies to the east of the city, in the direction of Blue Bay. In summer it is perfect conditions for diving, and winter strong winds blow, which contributes to windsurfing. Beautiful natural park of Le Val is located near the village of View-Grand-Port. In the Bois Cheri can visit the tea factory and get acquainted with all stages of processing tea leaves, and buy beautiful local tea Bois Cheri. On the coast stretched magnificent beaches covered with fine sand and the beach Morné many consider the best in the whole Mauritius.

Closer to the central part is hilly, covered with lush green plains of Champagne and mountainous plateau Piton de la Rivière Noire. Mountains are low, with a bizarre form peak bearing the curious title: "Cat and Mouse", "thumb", "Three teat," etc., Grand Bassa - the holy city of Mauritians of Indian origin, Hindus - the shrine is located near the lake, where the legends bathed fairies. Before the temple stands a statue of the god Shiva's bull, and on top of small hill - the figure of the god Anuamanga. In the area of the village Shamarel are beautiful waterfalls and natural phenomena "colored earth" on the sugar plantations of Bel-Ombr and "Valley of 23 colors" in Mar-a-Egyuy. A few kilometers from Suyyaka waterfalls Rochester, as well as "Weeping Rock" near the Gris-Gris.

The eastern coast of the island is considered one of the top holiday destinations - here, in the district of Vieux Grand Port, began the colonization of the island, is a great variety of landscapes, a strong coral reef stretches along almost the entire coast, the constant breeze from the ocean mitigate the heat, and the number of tourists is not as great as in the north. The main natural attractions of the east coast are considered to be virgin forest Domans du Chassériau and land Ylang-Ylang, Montagne du Lion (Lion Mountain, 480 meters), waterfalls Grande Rivière Sud-Est in the mouth of the river of the same name, Reindeer Island and the Cape Devil. Reindeer Island has long been transformed from a piece of untouched nature in the abundant tourism facilities built up resort. From Pointe-d'Esni, Trou d'Eau-dos or from Blue-Bay here regularly go boats passing by the islands Fouquet, the White Heron (bird sanctuary), fairway (the ruins of the fort), Lighthouse, Flamingo, and others from Palmaria to Pointe-de-Flac stretches many kilometers luxurious beach. In the prestigious resort turned the once quiet fishing village of Pointe-de-Flac, whose lagoon is surrounded by a magnificent private beach hotels, golf courses, a succession of pools connected by bridges, diving center, tennis courts, and 37 ha of tropical park. The best place for windsurfing - District Morne.

Rodrigues Island (18.3 to 6.5 km.) Situated in the Indian Ocean 650 km. to the east of Mauritius. Crowned in the center of the low Lemongrass Mountain (393 meters), the island plain, but punctuated by small valleys with steep slopes, ending at the shoreline by numerous bays and capes. The capital of the island - Port Mathurin, is located on the north-west Rodriguez. city like Hollywood movie set - there is almost no transport, homes built in some incredible old-style and painted in bright colors, clothing, local people are fantastic, and above all this is indescribable silence (relative, of course) a quiet country town. The main attraction of the city - he himself, as well as its quiet streets, old buildings and hundreds of people from Asian-owned shops and stores. In the capital, should visit the magnificent bay of Grand-Baie (5 km. To the east of Port-Mathurin), Pointe-Cotton ( "cotton cape"), fabulously beautiful Baie-o-Yuitr ( "Bay oysters"), mangroves Bae - Malagasies, a huge wild beach Grave, the beaches of Saint-François and Fyume near Pointe-Cotton, a Catholic chapel Sacre-Coeur (1939) in Saint-Gabriel, Victoria Falls in Saint-Famil, "coral plain with numerous caves in the south - west, a magnificent bay of Baie-Topaz and Cape Mapu. In the straits between coral reefs and the open sea beyond the mass of interesting places, "serviced" by local dive centers, as well as many sites for marine fishing.

Fishing on the high seas - one of the main attractions of Mauritius. At any time of the year caught the record copies of blue marlin, fish, hammerhead, tuna, barracuda and others. The best time for fishing accounts for November-April and September-November, and the most "empty" are June and July. Clubs that offer fishing on the high seas, provide for fishing boats and motor yachts, fully equipped with everything necessary. Best places for fishing are the bay near the south-western coast, from Riviere-Marlin-Noire to Morne Braban. You can go to sea, and with some local fishermen, so fishing can be even more interesting and effective "official", and would cost considerably less.

National parks and reserves in Mavpikii
Flic en Flac - a favorite vacation spot Mauritians, famous for its beautiful beaches and the nearby nature reserve "Kasel-Bird Park. About Volmar is the same name Reserve (700 hectares, opened in 1999), protecting the local fauna, as well as conducting on foot, bicycle and car trips. In the western part of the island a number of interesting natural monuments - the relic forest Makshabe (Mahabi Belomb, the largest nature reserve in Mauritius), the National Park Black River Gorge, "an island of Benito, San Pedro Bay, Mount Morne Braban (550 meters), as well as excellent sites for marine fishing. Park Riviera de Angiles allows you to see the crocodiles, giant tortoises, chameleons, monkeys, bats among lush tropical vegetation.

Near the northern coast, the ocean, is an impressive group of islands of Coin de Mir, Ile Ronde, Me-o-Serpents, Gabrielle, Ile-Plath, Ile d'Ambre and others, is a nature reserve. Here, besides the wild coast, preserved in its natural form the ecosystem of the islands, particularly popular water lagoon, perfect for diving.

Beautiful natural park of Le Val is located near the village of Grand-View-Port in the south of Mauritius.

The main natural attractions of the east coast are considered to be virgin forest Domans du Chassériau and land Ylang-Ylang, Montagne du Lion (Lion Mountain, 480 meters), waterfalls Grande Rivière Sud-Est in the mouth of the river of the same name, Reindeer Island and the Cape Devil.