LABOURDONNAIS CASTLE

The Château de Labourdonnais cultural site is one of the jewels in the crown of the local heritage, with its castle-museum, orchards, rum distillery and chimney. However, the site is not standing still, as the farm is still active and thriving, with its distillery and the country's largest fruit production. The Château is the jewel in the crown, providing a superb setting in which to discover the art of ^19th-century living. The tour begins with a splendid avenue of 150-year-old intendances, trees introduced to Mauritius in the ^18th century to embellish the gardens of noble residences. It leads to the château, a proud two-storey neoclassical building made mainly of teak wood, with a shingled roof and a double colonnaded gallery. This is the beginning of a journey into the past, revealing the many facets of life on a Mauritian agricultural estate. Once past the vestibule, the first floor is divided into two areas, as in the private mansions of the period: the dining room with its panoramic hand-painted décor on one side, and the living room and master's study on the other. The bedrooms are on the upper floor, while the kitchen is tucked away in a small outdoor pavilion - a precautionary rule imposed at the time to prevent the spread of fire. The furnishings bear witness to a dual influence, both English and French. The ingenious scenography appeals to all the senses, offering a marvellous plunge back in time.

An ode to life half-in, half-out, the circular varangue opens onto a canopy of ancient trees. You can explore the park on foot, following the didactic totems to discover the tree species, the mango trees (collection of some 50 varieties), the exotic species that produce fruit with strange names - pomme jacot, sapotier, jamalac, prunier de cythère... - or the more common papaya, guava, passion fruit and mango juices and jams... - to be discovered at the end of the visit during a tasting session.

Another nectar: rum from the Distillerie de Labourdonnais is produced on site. No tour, but informative totems reveal the secrets of production, and tastings and workshops are available.

A little further away, a unique underground museum under the old factory chimney reveals the site's hidden secrets. On-site stores and restaurant.