Mauritius - Beau Bassin Rose Hill

Enquire about Mauritius Holidays

When are you thinking of travelling?

100% Privacy Guaranteed

Like many reputable holiday companies we are ABTA registered, our ABTA membership number is 65310.

We also use ATOL protected tour operators. However if you wish to use a tour operator who is not ATOL protected then we will take our supplier failure insurance on your behalf.

For full details click here

Beau Bassin and Rose Hill are intertwined, largely residential, sister towns that hold little interest for the average tourist. Although Beau Bassin/Rose Hill was declared a town in 1896, it was not until 1927 that it was decided to build its town hall. This resulted in the series of linked, two-tiered pavilions that lie off the main road just outside the centre of Rose Hill. As well as the town hall, the complex includes the Plaza Theatre, with an extravagant rococo interior of gold leaf and maroon plush. It was originally built as a cinema (1929–32) but on 12 June 1934 the Mauritius Dramatic Club performed an inaugural play, The Last of Mrs Cheney.

Beau Bassin has a small municipal park, Balfour Gardens, overlooking the Plaines Wilhems Gorge, where there is a waterfall. Across this valley is Le Réduit (see Around Le Réduit, pages 186–7). La Tour Blanche, a white manor house built in 1834, lies to the south of the garden. This is where Charles Darwin stayed during his visit in 1836. At the other side of the town are the island prisons, the police training school and the college of education.

In Rose Hill a number of solid Victorian buildings have been preserved amidst the lock-up shops and apartment blocks of this bustling town. Some say its name comes from the rosy glow of sunset on Corps de Garde Mountain behind it, whilst others claim the town, being on a hill, was named after Rose, the mistress of the landowner. Corps de Garde mountain (719m) won its name because a French military post was established on it to control the bands of runaway slaves in the region.

Getting there and away The bus station in Rose Hill is at Place Margéot. There are regular buses from Victoria Square in Port Louis to Rose Hill, and some continue via the other plateau towns to Curepipe. There are also buses linking Rose Hill and Centre de Flacq.

Where to stay If you really need to stay in the Beau Bassin/Rose Hill area and don’t have friends or relatives who can put you up, you may struggle for options.

Budget

A Euro Vacances (24 rooms) 8 Rue Poivre, Beau Bassin; % 466 3524; f 465 1022; e eurovacances[at]intnet.mu; eurovacanceshotel.com. Basic, uninspiring en-suite rooms with fan, TV & phone; some have AC, minibar & balcony. A room with kitchenette is available on request. There is a restaurant & pool.

Where to eat

X Le Pékinois 4 Ambrose St, Rose Hill; % 454 7229; ( for lunch & dinner Tue–Sun. Cuisine: Chinese, grills. $$

Other practicalities Royal Road is the main street, on which you’ll find banks, ATMs, shopping malls and payphones.

Get prices for Mauritius Holidays

When are you thinking of travelling?

Mauritius - Beau Bassin Rose Hill

Central Mauritius

Mauritius - Beau Bassin Rose Hill