Château de Labourdonnais, colonial history in a nutshell

Back to colonial times. Founded by the Wiehe family (who still own it) in 1776, the estate covers 540 hectares. The château, built in 1856, is in a style typical of 19th century colonial residences. Long privately owned, the grounds are now open to the public and can be visited in almost their entirety, from the drawing rooms to the dining rooms and bedrooms. Luxurious period furniture is on display.

Its historic character fascinates and attracts visitors. As a result, a number of projects have been developed to highlight its cultural and historical facets, while at the same time enhancing the value of its estate. Thanks to museologist Claude Fauque and renowned French scenographer Alexandre Fruh, the estate has positioned itself to become a must-see destination in Mauritius.

Major renovations and works took place between 2006 and 2010. The château is currently hosting an exhibition featuring a high-quality short film on the work and renovation. A small museum retracing the history of the estate and colonial life on the island has also been added to the list.

Around the château, the sugar cane fields stretch as far as the eye can see. These are the main source of the history of the estate, where many people have worked. Since 1959, an orchard has complemented this magnificent natural setting. In addition to fruit, the estate's production has diversified to include vegetables, with the arrival of a nursery. Finally, a vanilla plantation was set up here in 2000, an intense activity typical of Mauritius.

Today, visitors can wander through the gardens and orchards, encountering endemic plants including some fifty species of century-old mango trees, spice trees and exotic trees.

Visitors have two options for surveying this immense estate: a walk along the paths to discover the different gardens, or a ride on the Labourdonnais express, a small train that passes through the must-see spots. The luckiest visitors may come across the giant Aldabra tortoises relaxing in the shade of the hundred-year-old trees.

After a tour of the château and gardens, visitors are taken on a surprising culinary journey. The tour ends at the tasting bar, where you can awaken your senses with 100% Mauritian products. You can stroll through the distillery, where a wide range of rums are on offer, including ten that have won international medals. A delicatessen, La Corbeille, is also open to the public and offers local products. You'll find fresh fruit juices and jams, as well as ice creams and sorbets made using traditional recipes. There's no doubt that your taste buds will be spoilt in this area.

The gustatory journey continues with two restaurants. La Table du Château welcomes gourmets to discover Mauritian gastronomy, generous and refined. The chef offers a creative, evolving and unique menu, inspired by family recipes. All the vegetables are grown on the estate. The chef's cuisine stands out for its touch of citrus fruits, herbs and spices. Finally, the other address not to be missed is La Terrasse. It is just two minutes from the château. It's a friendly, welcoming café offering tasty cuisine with more European options to suit all tastes: salads, croque-monsieur, pasta, quiches and more.