One of the island’s best-loved historic sites and visitor attractions, Eureka House is a stately Creole mansion completed in 1830 and originally owned by French and British aristocrats. Formerly a sugar plantation, a visit to the immaculately preserved house reveals the well-chronicled 19^th century colonial past of Mauritius, and its interior rooms brim with period furniture, ebony and mahogany antiques, finely painted chinaware, old ceramics, books and rugs, and photographs of daily life. With its 109 doors and windows and wide wraparound verandah, it’s thought to be one of the largest houses in the country.

Explore the gardens

Now a museum, with its own restaurant and separate guesthouse, Eureka House also offers visitors a chance to experience the island’s lush interior, with expansive grounds and formal gardens laid to replace the original sugar cane fields. Dedicated walking trails weave through native flora and along river banks, past small waterfalls and secret bridges. Look out for mango trees, various types of palms and rare specimens like the enormous agathis robusta tree, one of the best examples in Mauritius.

Sample Mauritian flavours at La Maison Creole

A visit to Eureka wouldn’t be complete without sampling some of the rich and spicy flavours at La Maison Creole, the museum’s own restaurant. Here you can try dishes drawn from the island’s diverse blend of cultures, including various curries and the traditional ‘rougaille’ - a piquant tomato sauce simmered with onions, garlic and thyme. Or simply find a spot in the garden or on the verandah to enjoy a cup of refreshing Mauritian tea. Choose from vanilla, mint, lemon and other flavours and pick up a box of your favourite in the souvenir shop, along with local spices, jams, chutneys, textiles and scarves. Eureka House is open from Monday to Sunday from 9am – 5pm and on Saturdays from 9am – 3.30pm. Visit their website for more information: Eureka House Read more about Mauritian architecture.