The Capital of Mauritius, Port-Louis is rich in yesterday’s treasures merging beautifully with our present.
Are you ready to discover the past and the present of Mauritius in the same city? Then, dig in and read this short guide about Port Louis and when visiting our beautiful island, make sure to along the city’s various French and British streets and unveil the history of this bustling city
The history of Port Louis first starts at the eighteenth century when the French took possession of the island. As a tribute for their King, Louis XV, the French settlers named the region as “Port North- West” and with time, it was renamed as “Port Louis”.
Under the French colonization when Mauritius was known as “Ile de France”. The French governor at that time, Mahé de Labourdonnais contributed enormously to the development and growth of the city. The governor put emphasis both on the architecture and economics. Since Port Louis was well protected from the strong winds by the Moka Mountain Range, Port Louis was thus chosen as the fort and main harbor of the island. Following this, Port Louis undertook important changes to become the trading center of Mauritius and the main naval base.
Today, with its free trading zone and big harbor, Port Louis had developed into a fiscal paradise and is a real hive for trades, banks and enterprises. Most big businesses operate in Port Louis and hence it has developed a high business culture. Therefore many Mauritians from the suburbs and nearby villages have to come to work in the capital daily which makes Port Louis the busiest city in Mauritius.
With its daily heavy traffic, humidity and heat, Port Louis is not the ideal city to live in and to spend your holiday, but definitely worth the visit to have a glimpse of the Mauritian culture. Moreover, you will also see the ancient architecture of basaltic rocks which the French and the British has left as a legacy of their colonization. Next to these ancient buildings, you will see new modern skyscrapers which show that rapid development of Mauritius as one of the fastest developing countries in Africa. The past and the present of Mauritius in the same city is a beautiful and interesting sight worth the visit!
