Chateau Labourdonnais

The Chateau Labourdonnais in Mapou has opened its doors to the public following nearly three years of renovation and now offers a fascinating glimpse of the world of the 19th century sugar planter.

The château de Labourdonnais was built in 1858 by Christian Wiehe, an insightful man, whose numerous descendants still mostly live in Mauritius today. Soon afterwards, a tropical orchard was planted on the lands of the Domaine, which still holds a few centenary mango trees. A sugar factory was also built in Labourdonnais and the estate’s main economic activity remained sugar production

The residence is now open to the public with magnificently restored rooms, ‘speaking’ furniture and even stair banisters, and an informative exhibition upstairs. With the addition of a restaurant, and the gardens to visit, this is a must-see on the tourist itinerary, particular for those staying in the north of the island.