Le Reduit
This house is the Mauritius governor's residence, now used by the military. Unfortunately the house is open to the public only two days a year, in March and October.
Le Reduit, which means 'refuge', was built in 1778 by the French governor Barthelemy David, who succeeded Mahe de La Bourdonnais. You can still walk around the gardens. The grounds are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to noon.
There is a 1km forest lined drive from the main gate and guard post down to the big colonial mansion. The countryside around Le Reduit estate is very scenic, particularly at the drive way entrance, where you look down from the roadside into the lush valley of the Riviere Cascade.
