La RocheQue Pleure

Robert Edward hart (1891-1954) was a renowned Mauritius poet, appreciated by the French and English alike. He wrote in French and translations of his poetry are hard to find. He lived out the last 13years of his life at Le Nef, a coral beach cottage about 500m east along the shore from the Souillac Bus Park. It was taken over by public in 1967 the bedroom and kitchens have been maintained. On display are copies and originals of Hart’s letters, plays, speeches and poetry, as well as his spectacles, pith helmet and fiddle.

More like a small municipal park than actual gardens, the Telfair Gardens are hardly an outstanding sight. But they are conveniently opposite the Bus Park in Soullic, on the road to the Robert Edward Hart Museum and Gris Gris. The gardens were named after Sir Charles Telfair, secretary to the English governor, sugar baron and superintendent of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolan Botanical Gardens. You get a good view across the bay from Telfair to the graveyard at Cemetery Point, where Hart is buried.

Named after the Vicomte de Souillac, the island's French governor from 1779 to 1787, Souillac Like Mahebourg, is of little interest in itself. It is not particularly welcoming or helpful to visitors, probably because it is not used to getting them. Souillac seems a place that Mauritius likes to visit. Gris Gris and Robert Edward Hart’s house are popular school outings.

• Eureka House In Moka, Mauritius
• Historical Museum In Mohabourg, Mauritius. Tel: 230 6319329
• Mauritius Herbarium In Reduit, Mauritius

Beaches
No island on earth offers such a variety of beautiful beaches and lagoons. On the west coast are the public beaches of Tamarin, (well-known to surfers for its big waves), Flic en Flac, which provides a fine lagoon with shallow waters, Albion, pointe aux Sables, Baie du Tombeau and others. The northern coastline has many delightful beaches - Pointe aux Piments, famous for its underwater scenery, Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy, one the most popular: Grand Baie, the main center for yachting, fishing, water skiing and Pereybere - probably one of the best bathing beaches.