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Curepipe

Curepipe - Mauritius Cities and Towns
Description
Curepipe is the island's main urban centre, a pleasant town which lacks the atmospere of Port Louis but has good shops and restaurants. Curepipe has the flavour of an English market town.

Attractions:

Tro aux Cerfs:
Possibly the main attractiopn of Curepipe for tourists apart from the shopping is the Trou aux Cerfs crater. It's been extinct for a 1 time and the crater floor is now hea' wooded, but the crater affords lovely vi, around the island. A tarred road leads gel up to and around the rim. There are for rest and reflection, and a radar station keeping an electronic eye on cyclone a city. Also read: Trekking In Curepipe

Municipal Centre
Grouped together on Elizabeth Ave are Hotel de Ville (town hall), Carnegie Libr pond and gardens. The colonial-style tl hall, built in 1902, has recently been stored. In the gardens is a bronze statu] the famous fictitious lovers Paul and Virgi by Mauritian sculptor Prosperd'Epinay. Statue is to Curepipe and Mauritius what the Little Mermaid is to Copenhagen and Denmark. There are also statues of the French astronomer Abbe la Caille and poet Paul Jean Toulet.

Botanical Gardens:
The gardens are nowhere near as large or impressive as those of Pamplemousses, but they are well kept and informal, with little nature trails leading off from the main paths. There are no guides paper or on foot. It's a popular spot for picnics and lovers' trysts. The gardens are open daily from 8 am to 5 pm and entry is free.

Market :
The fruit and vegetable market, under the cover of the bus station, is open from early morning until 6 pm from Monday to Saturday and only until noon on Sunday. On Saturdays and Wednesdays there is a large market in the Suburb of forest Side It is open from around 6am to 6pm.

History
It probably takes its name from a town in the southwest of France. For those who will not accept dull explanations, it could have been named by French soldiers who used the place as a rest and smoke stop where they could cure their pipes on the way to or from Quartier Militaire.

Curepipe has the flavour of an English market town. The Franco Mauritians stay mostly in the suburbs around Curepipe, particularly Floreal, and come into Curepipe by car to shop. A lot of the other locals come in bus or walk under the shade of umbrellas are a safe either way bet any day, because it also rains frequently in Curepipe.

Accommodation

Accommodation is rather dreary in Curepipe, probably because most tourists opt to come here on a day trip, rather than stay.

Bottom end:
Welcome Hotel, on route Royale, is one of the best budget options and is run by a friendly family.
Le continent, is a large pension de famille at 184 Route Royale.
Europa is a soulless edifice east of the lake and is often used for conferences. Lacking any shared of characters, it offers rooms but no meals are available.

Middle:
Shanghai Hotel, in the town centre, has singles and doubles rooms, including breakfast. You can get a meal in the golden Lion restaurant, which is connected with the hotel.

Mandarin, north of Curepipe in Floreal, has 90 comfortable rooms. There is also a restaurant.

Getting there and Around
Curepipe is well linked by bus to Port Louis , Mahebourg, Tamarin, centre de Flacq, Moka and surrounding towns such as quatre Bornes. Most of the sights, such as the Trou aux Cerfs crater and the botanical gardens, are easy walks. There is a little or no opportunity to rent motorbikes or bicycles in the town, unless you do so privately.

Bank and Foreign Exchange
Most of the banks are on the Mahebourg Main Rd. The two main banks, the Mauritius Commercial Bank MCB and Barclays Bank, are opposite each other at the western end of Chateauneuf St. Further along the main road, towards Mahebourg is the Banque Nationale de Paris. Intercontinental and the state Commercial Bank, and towards Port Louis is the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank.

Police Station:
The main Police Station is located along the Route Royal.

Where to Eat
Chinese Wok, 242 Royal Road 1st floor Tel: 676 1548 open from Mon-Fri for Lunch and Dinner.
Golden Lion, rue Frere Ignace Tel: 674 4265.
La Nouvelle Potiniere, rue frere La Ignace Tel: 676 2648, Opened from Mon to Sat for Lunch and Dinner.

Medical Services
Victoria Hospital Candos Tel: 425 3031.

You may also be interested in . . .
  • Trou aux Cerfs

    Possibly the main attraction of Curepipe is the Trou aux Cerfs crater. It's been extinct for a long time and the crater floor is now heavily wooded, but the crater affords excellent views around the island. A tarred road leads gently up to and around the rim.

  • Plaine Champagne to Bassin Blanc and Chemin Grenier

    This walk begins about 3km south of Le Petrin along the road towards Plaine Champagne. Heading south, look for the spot where the road makes a sharp turn to the right and two trails branch off to the left. The route is fairly open passing through a variety of landscapes before emerging at Bassin Blanc, an idyllic crater lake surrounded by forest. Although the IGN map shows a break in the route here, it does in fact continue to meet the yellow road, which descends to Chamouny and Chemin Grenier.Return from Chemin Grenier to Curepipe via Souillac, where you will have to change buses.

  • Grand Baie

    Description
    This is the main holiday centre for Mauritians and tourists alike. Grand Baie used to be a tiny fishing village. The northern coastline beyond Tombeau Bay has many delightful beaches. The coastline curves into Grand Baie itself, the main centre for yachting, water skiing, windsurfing, and many other water sports.

    History

  • Flic en flac

    Description
    The name Flic en Fac is thought to come from the old Dutch name. Friend Landt Flaak or Free and Flat land. On older maps this was spelt as fri-lan Flac, subsequently adapted by the Frenf into Flic en Flac.

  • La Val Nature Park

    The road into Le Val is at Union Park Village, about halfway on the Mahebourg Curepipe road, Cluny village, the gateway to Le Val Nature Park in the valley of the Riviere des Creole, is about 7km down the road. Many of the amazing anthurium flowers are grown at Le Val in shade houses. There are also water fields full watercress, which, complements many Creole meals, and attemps at prawn farming. Other facilities include a small aquarium and a deer park. Le Val is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.There is a bus service from Curepipe to Rose Belle, via Cluny.

  • Curepipe - Trekking in Mauritius

    Curepipe is the best base for trekkers and for stocking up before your walk. Due to the lack of public transport over mountain roads in the island's southwestern corner, access to most trailheads will require private transport or a taxi ride. For lowland walking, take into accounts the heat and humidity. If you prefer walking on the highland plateau, come prepared for rain at any time of the year, especially from October to March.

  • Plaine champagne to Bel Ombre (south coast )

    The trailhead for this walk is the Plaine champagne viewpoint on the Curepipe Chamarel road passing en route a succession of wonderful views through some lovely mixed forest and plantations. The finish meanders along some rather confusing cane field tracks which emerge at the coast road. From Bel Ombre, there are buses to Souillac (change there for Curepipe) and to Tamarin via Baie du Cap. Allow about four hours for this fairly easy walk.

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