- Address: Street Royal Rd, Mahébourg, Mauritius
- Working hours: Monday, Wednesday - Saturday from 9.00 to 16.00, Sunday - from 9.00 to 12.00, Tuesday - closed
- Cost: free admission
The city of Maeburg , located in the south-eastern part of the island of Mauritius , has a rich past. It was founded by the Dutch, who fell in love with these places, inspired by the picturesque water area of the bay and the most beautiful beaches. Then it continued to build the French, thanks to them there were colorful streets, and until our times there were many mansions of that time.
Location of the museum
In the building of Gheude Castle, which is of historical significance for the city, is the National Museum of History of Mauritius. It is located on the beautiful shore of the La Chaue River and is surrounded by a picturesque pine grove.
Against this background, the colonial mansion, built in 1770, looks pretty majestic. Previously it belonged to the family of Robillard, and in it during 1810 the hospital was located. Here, French and British soldiers were nursed, wounded in the battle at the cape of Cap Malheure ("Unhappy"). It was a brutal sea battle, victory in which the French won.
Exposition
In 1950, the Museum of History of Mauritius was opened, the exposition of which is located on two floors. It describes the five centuries of the island's existence, beginning with the time when the Portuguese colonization took place. The second floor of the museum acquaints visitors with the British period, the time of the abolition of slave labor and the appearance of a civilian. In the museum you can see ethnic objects, documents, engravings and lithographs.
The exposition presents interesting pieces of furniture, among which the bed of the Governor of Bertrand François Mae de Labourdonna - a well-known and respected person in those days. The exhibits relating to the development of the railway on the island will be interesting.
Collections of two museums
Since the National Museum of History of Mauritius has united two separate museums, the collection has exhibits from both. So, the Museum of marine relics brought to the exposition objects and works of art, which are associated with the naval affair. You can see the maps, as well as see pictures, household items and other things that were delivered by sea from different countries.
Thanks to the museum of historical memorabilia, artifacts and archaeological finds appeared here that tell of naval navigation and pirates, shipwrecks that occurred in the water area of the island.
In the collection there are silver and gold coins, buckles from belts and treasures from a real pirate ship, which crashed here in 1702. Among the exhibits of ceramics you can see the Chinese porcelain of the Ming Dynasty, white and blue. These are very rare items in our time.
Young visitors will like the personal belongings of travelers and seafarers who lived in these places. They will see the gun of the king of corsairs Robert Serkouf, as well as the telescope and sword that belonged to Captain Rivington.
Among the exhibits are many engravings, some of them depict a missing dodo bird, the museum also has its bones found during excavations. Considering the exposition, you can find many other artifacts that tell the story of the island. Even cannons are represented here. In 1988, thanks to Prince Oransky-Nassau, the Dutch part of the museum was opened.
How to get there?
Prior to Maeburg, out of the main resorts of the island , Port Louis and Kurepipe , every hour an hour is covered by express trains, moreover, the city can also be reached by bus No. 198.
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