{"id":3135,"date":"2026-09-18T13:59:29","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T09:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mj-developpement.mu\/?p=3135"},"modified":"2026-09-18T14:08:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T10:08:27","slug":"labourdonnais-castle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mj-developpement.mu\/en\/blog\/labourdonnais-castle\/","title":{"rendered":"Ch\u00e2teau de Labourdonnais: colonial house and northern orchards"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the heart of northern Mauritius, Ch\u00e2teau de Labourdonnais<\/strong> invites you on a journey back in time. This carefully restored 19th-century colonial house stands in the middle of a large estate planted with mango and lychee trees and spices.<\/p>\n

A rum distillery, a restaurant, a shop and fruit orchards make it one of the essential visits<\/strong> for discovering Mauritius beyond the lagoon, around fifteen minutes from our resort in Grand Gaube, Mythic Suites & Villas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

At MJ D\u00e9veloppement<\/strong>, a property developer in Mauritius<\/a>, we often recommend this estate to our clients as a way into Mauritian history.<\/p>\n

This topic at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Key point<\/th>\nIn short<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Location<\/td>\nMapou, Rivi\u00e8re du Rempart district, north of the island<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Period<\/td>\nColonial house built in the mid-19th century<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What to see<\/td>\nRestored house, orchards, distillery, restaurant and shop<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length of visit<\/td>\nAbout 2 hours for the full tour<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Access<\/td>\nAbout 1 hour from SSR airport in the south<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Ch\u00e2teau de Labourdonnais and its history<\/h2>\n

Ch\u00e2teau de Labourdonnais<\/strong> was built in the mid-19th century<\/strong> by the Wiehe family, on a large agricultural estate in the north of the island. Its name pays tribute to Bertrand-Fran\u00e7ois Mah\u00e9 de La Bourdonnais<\/strong>, the French governor of the former Isle de France.<\/p>\n

The colonnaded house, with its veranda, high ceilings and original parquet floors, is a fine illustration of Mauritian colonial architecture<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Period<\/p>\n

After a long restoration<\/strong>, the estate reopened to the public. Today you walk through drawing rooms furnished in period style, the bedrooms, the kitchen and the verandas that look out over the orchards.<\/p>\n

Every room tells the story of a great planter family<\/strong>, between farming, Creole society and European influences. The whole remains one of the finest surviving examples of built heritage<\/strong> in Mauritius, well worth seeing during a stay in the north.<\/p>\n

The estate: orchards, distillery and dining<\/h2>\n

Beyond the house, the estate stands out for the wealth of its crops and activities<\/strong>. It is easy to spend half a day here, between a walk in the orchards, a rum tasting and lunch at La Table du Ch\u00e2teau.<\/p>\n

Here are the highlights to discover on site.<\/p>\n

The fruit orchards of Ch\u00e2teau de Labourdonnais<\/h3>\n

The orchards bring together more than a hundred varieties of tropical trees<\/strong>, several of them endemic or heritage varieties:<\/p>\n