Ile au Phare, a story to tell
Fouquets Island, also known as L'île au Phare by the locals, is a rocky island in the bay of Grand Port, located on the coral reef in the southeast of Mauritius. It has been classified as a historical monument having been a privileged witness of the colonisation of Mauritius. A historical book in the form of an island to narrate to you a part of the history of Mauritius. Close your eyes and let your imagination take you back to the colonial era.
A battle set in the stone
Fouquets Island played a key role in the defence Ile de France (Mauritius) in the Battle of Grand Port, between the French and the British. The French who had ruled Mauritius since 1715 had to face the threat of a British invasion in 1810. This battle lasted for 6 days, from 23 to 28 August 1810 and ended with the triumph of the Imperial Navy; the battle was very intense throughout the night of 23 August and there were significant losses on both sides but much more significant among the British. On August 24 one of the British ships was in a sorry state, the British commander was wounded in the eye and the French commander also had wounds. It was only on August 28, at 10 a.m., that the last British ship capitulated. 105 men were killed and 164 were wounded among the British compared to 34 killed and 112 wounded among the French. This prestigious battle is set in the marble of the Arc De Triomphe in Paris being the only naval victory of the Napoleonic era.
The lighthouse; the guardian of the island
During the colonisation of Mauritius, a lighthouse was built to guide ships to the port of Mahebourg, which was then the main port of the island from the time the French settled until the early 20th century. Facing the centuries, the ruins of the lighthouse and the adjoining house of the guardian are two impressive historical monuments. Inside the Lighthouse the basalt stone spiral staircase is still present, fixed in the wall of the tower, unfortunately some of the steps have not survived the passage of time. The doors and windows are lined with carved stones and the walls are made of coral masonry.
A beauty like no other
Enjoy a visit rich in history and emotions. The islet has a truly exhilarating panorama, proudly standing in the middle of the lagoon with calm, turquoise blue waters and waves offshore crash on the islet's cliffs. Having no inhabitants the islet has remained wild and has therefore been preserved as it is, it is also one of the must-see during the cruises organized in the beautiful lagoons of Mauritius. It is accessible by flat-bottomed boat only. You can have a picnic, enjoy the landscape and visit the Lighthouse, nature lovers and photographers will be elated.
L'île au Phare has defied time and still stands in all its splendour and has an exciting story to tell. Why not add it to the list of your next destinations to explore? Get ready for the next boat trip to Ile au Phare and discover the past of Mauritius.
