Travelling Curepipe
Before You Travel
Curepipe as the highest city of Mauritius has more to offer than the famous volcanic crater Trou aux Cerfs. It can be very refreshing to spend some time in the highland after some days at the beach, but don’t forget to bring an umbrella as it rains quit often. Because of the mild climate many Mauritians who work in Port Louis choose to live in Curepipe. The historic centre is between the town hall, the central market and the church St. Thérès. Between the North Bus Station and the South Bus Station the Townhall Gardens are situated. This could be concerned as a nice but not very special park if there was not the famous statue of Paul and Virginie. This love drama which takes place in Mauritius can be compared to Romeo and Juliet in terms of how famous it is in France and Mauritius. As there are so many statues and stories about the couple some people seem to think that the drama has happened in reality.
From the park you can see on one side the price winning building of the central market. On the other side the town hall L’Hôtel de Ville which has been built in colonial-creol style in 1902. The story of its construction is a very special one. Curepipe’s citizen conceived the desire to get a new house for festivals. As the major really liked the house „La Malmaison de Moka“ it was dismantled, brought to Curepipe and there stone by stone built up anew. Some metres from the town hall, in front of the Carnegie library you can see the statue of a very famous Mauritian: Sir Gaetan Duval. His face might be familiar to you as it bears the 1000 – Rupees note. On the opposite side of the road the splendid church Ste. Thérès d’Avila can be seen. Well worth seeing is as well the catholic basilica Ste. Hélène which can be found at the northern end of the Royal Road. In this church celtic, romanian and oriental elements are combined.
Around Royal Roal there are many little shops and it can be really fun to have a look around because those are the shops for the locals. Instead of a plush dodo you will able to purchase for example special indian fabrics. For shopping I really like the Curimjeee Arcades which are at the corner Ste. Winston Churchill Street/Royal Road. Here you can find many little shops which sell little furnishings, Chinese specialities, and clothes. In the second floor there is a nice little café. For bargain hunters I have a very special tip: In Elysee in the ground floor there is one of those hard to find factory outlets.
Round about 5 minutes’ drive from the centre is the Botanical Garden. It cannot be compared to the Botanical Garden in Pamiplemousses because it is more like a municipal park. If you have a closer look you might find some banana trees, paper trees and hidden little ponds and when it is raining you can ride the car through the park.
Curepipe Tours
