Culture of Le Morne. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The main treasures of tiny Le Morne are its picturesque beaches and interesting natural attractions. To find historical and cultural sites, fans of excursions should head to the neighboring towns. They are very close to the resort so this kind of tours is always popular with tourists. In the vicinity of Le Morne is the original Maison Eureka Museum that occupies a beautiful colonial building. This building formerly housed a large sugar cane processing factory. Several years ago it was reconstructed and converted into a museum.

The historic building itself is remarkable for its unusual architecture with more than a hundred doors. The wood-carved elements are perfectly preserved in the interior, the atmosphere of past centuries was restored in the mansion as accurately as possible. Here you can see collections of luxurious antique furniture, unique works of art and personal belongings of planters who once lived in these places. The colonial estate stands in a large garden, and several active plantations have been preserved next to it. Tourists are invited to ride a horse-drawn open carriage and admire the surrounding landscapes.

From Le Morne, one can easily get to the picturesque town of Rose-Hill, the entire territory of which is considered a unique historical site. A lot of well-preserved colonial buildings are still actively used by townspeople here. They are presently occupied by schools, colleges, government offices, and hotels. It is very convenient to explore the small town on foot, as interesting historical sites are located at every step. Here you can find an excellent theater where local artists and student groups perform, as well as several art galleries. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In the vicinity of the resort, it was possible to preserve several ancient fortifications, which were used to protect the coast from invaders in the past. The most interesting one is Château Robillard that was built by the first colonizers. Over the long history of its existence, the fortress has managed to avoid destruction so today it looks truly impressive. A historical museum, one of the largest on the island, was opened within the walls of the picturesque castle.

In addition to typical antiques and a rich collection of paintings, it presents a collection of old maps, as well as models of ships on which colonists arrived on the island. One of the most interesting is the collection of ancient weapons, some of which once belonged to pirates. A significant part of the exposition is devoted to the culture and life of the indigenous population.

Not far from the castle is one of the region's most interesting religious attractions - the ancient church Notre-Dame des Anges. This Catholic church is remarkable for being one of the very first on the island. Since its construction, it has never undergone any major reconstruction, therefore today it is exactly the same as during the colonial development of Mauritius. Many valuable religious attributes, sculptures of saints, and ancient icons are hidden within the walls of the church.

One of the few historical sites that managed to survive in Le Morne is the old Martello Tower. Once it was part of large-scale fortifications that were built along the entire coast. All of them have collapsed over hundreds of years, and only the strong tower remained safe and sound. Now it has a small museum dedicated to the history of the city and a beautiful observation deck at its top. In the tower's museum, one can see old military guns that were used to protect coastal areas. One of the oldest cannons is still installed on the roof of the tower.

Another category of popular tourist attractions is old lighthouses. The beautiful Albion Lighthouse has been preserved near Le Morne. It has been one of the highest on the island since its construction. Until a few decades ago, it had served its intended purpose for more than a hundred years. When it lost its former relevance, the lighthouse was preserved to become one of the main historical symbols of the resort. Tourists are allowed to climb to the top of the lighthouse and admire a wonderful view of the coast from its observation deck. Near the lighthouse is a popular tourist area adorned with landscaped gardens and fountains.