Pamplemousses: Sugar Cane History and Historic Sites

Pamplemousses is best explored through its cultural history: L’Aventure du Sucre tells the story of Mauritius’ close connection to sugar cane, while the Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the old cemetery offer another, locally rooted way to explore the past. These themes complement each other: would you like to learn about the history of sugar and trade, or are you more interested in historic dedications and places of remembrance? These questions can help you decide whether Pamplemousses is right for your holiday rental search for a trip to Mauritius.

Sugar Cane and Museum History

L’Aventure du Sucre is an interactive museum in a former sugar cane factory in Pamplemousses. Its exhibition explores the history of Mauritius and the island’s close connection to sugar cane. It also covers the importance of sugar in the past and present, sugar production and harvesting, various processing stages, and the history of the global sugar trade. The subject unfolds from several angles, from cultivation and harvesting to processing and trade. The building’s former use as a sugar cane factory and the exhibition’s content give the site a tangible connection to this history.

The temporary exhibitions have also covered a range of topics. Examples on display have included Mauritian photographic art, as well as food and hunger. These examples broaden the focus beyond the main subject of sugar, spanning visual culture and social issues. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the broad, ongoing exhibition theme and the varied topics of previous temporary exhibitions.

Church, Cemetery and Historic Remembrance

Another way to explore Pamplemousses’ history is to visit the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. It was built in 1735 in honour of the Governor of Isle de France, François Mahé de Labourdonnais, and the wealthy settlers of the time. Several graves in the old cemetery near the church are classified as historic monuments. These include the grave of Buonavita, Napoleon’s chaplain, which is also classified as a historic monument.

The church and cemetery offer a different perspective from the sugar museum, focusing on a specific 18th-century dedication and individual graves. Buonavita’s grave also connects local history with his role as Napoleon’s chaplain. For visitors interested in historic figures, architectural history and monuments, this provides a distinct theme alongside the history of sugar cane.

More Topics Across the Wider Destination of Mauritius

In the wider destination of Mauritius, the Le Morne Cultural Landscape is another point of cultural and historical interest. It is located at the southwestern tip of the island and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on 10 July 2008. Le Morne illustrates the history of slavery in Mauritius and the pursuit of freedom in the 17th and 18th centuries. The mountain served as a fortress and refuge for escaped enslaved people; physical and oral evidence attests to this use. Alongside the history of sugar cane, it offers a distinct perspective on resistance and freedom.

The Bras d’Eau National Park, also in the wider destination of Mauritius, offers a different perspective on the landscape. The national park covers 497.2 hectares and is predominantly planted with mahogany, araucaria, tecoma and eucalyptus. Mare Sarcelle is part of the park and is home to mangroves, native plant species and some migratory bird species. The Coq des Bois Trail runs through the forest and ends at Mares Chevrettes. These nature-related topics offer a different focus from the local and museum history of Pamplemousses.

Mauritius also has a connection to food: dholl puri and roti are among Mauritians’ favourite dishes. Together with the historical and landscape-related topics, they showcase different sides of the island, though not every topic necessarily points to the same type of trip or accommodation.

The local cultural themes can therefore help guide your choice of a holiday rental in Pamplemousses: the museum, church and old cemetery make history a clear focus. If you also want to shape your trip to Mauritius around nature, island history or cuisine, you can consider these interests as separate themes.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Trou Aux Biches, Pamplemousses, Balaclava, Pointe Aux Piments, Tombeau Bay, D'Epinay, Triolet, Long Mountain.

Back to the wider travel overview: Mauritius.