On 18 May, the world takes a step back in time to celebrate International Museum Day. Come with us as we do the rounds of notable Mauritian museums, some of which have the added appeal of free admission.
Local history is not what comes to mind when planning a trip to Mauritius. But if you want to better understand the island, you need to prise yourself away from the beach for a day and hit the museums.
In Mahebourg, in the South-East, the National History Museum is housed in a beautiful colonial building, itself a National Heritage site. Built at the end of the 18th century as part of the Rivière-La-Chaux estate, it was sold a number of times during the French and British periods. It was bought by the government in 1937 and housed the Naval Museum as from 15 September 1950.
After major renovation work, it opened again, on 2 August 2000, as the National History Museum, which holds objects of immense historical value.
The first room’s showpiece is the only complete skeleton from a single dodo in the world. Bones of the solitaire, an extinct flightless bird from the island of Rodrigues, are also on display. Visitors can also see stuffed animals, including the giant sea turtle and a deer, first brought to Mauritius by the Dutch from the island of Java.
The French and British Eras
On entering the second room, your eyes are immediately attracted to the beautiful piano which belonged to the Royal Navy. Just as impressive is the majestic portrait of Mahé de Labourdonnais, the French governor of the island from 1735 to 1746.
Other artefacts from the French and British colonial eras can be seen, like a palanquin or the portraits of men whose names are associated with the history of the island. Among these are Pierre Poivre, a colonial administrator famous for introducing a number of spices to Mauritius, and Abbot Nicolas-Louis de La Caille, an astronomer who was the first to produce the map of Mauritius as we know it today.
The Battle of Grand Port
Among the treasures of the museum are objects from ships which took part, in 1810, in the battle of Grand Port – a French victory over the British which is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe, in Paris. Displayed is a piece of the hull of HMS Magicienne and objects salvaged from the wreck of H.M.S Sirius.
The first floor of the museum houses other treasures, but discovering them on your own will be part of the fun.
Instead, let’s make our way to nearby Vieux Grand Port, where Fort Frederik Hendrik warrants a visit. The buildings in ruin you can see date back to the French era and were once a prison, a bakery, a blacksmith’s shop… These were built on top of the ruins of a Dutch fort; the oldest ruins on the island! Artefacts discovered during archaeological digs on the site are housed in the museum, which opened in 1999.
The Postal Museum
With its national monument status, the old stone building in Port Louis which used to be the Central Post Office is now a postal museum. Rare collections of stamps, but also of bags and mailboxes, tell the story of the island’s postal services.
The Poet’s Abode
In Souillac, if you are heading to Gris-Gris, spare some time to visit a peculiar construction. The house of deceased Mauritian poet Robert Edward Hart is made of coral and the furniture, books and collections have been left as they were when he died. The place is quite small, but there is a lot to take in.
Of Castles and Museums…
Many of the island’s castles have been converted into museums. At the Château de Bel-Ombre, the World of Seashells museum houses an important collection assembled by Eric Le Court de Billot and his father since the 60s. And in the North, the Château de Labourdonnais opens its doors to let you catch a glimpse of the opulent lifestyle of rich 19th century landowners.
Google Map link to the National History Museum
Google Map link to the Fort Frederik Hendrik
