Nestled between the old building of the government house and the harbour, the Place d'Armes in Port-Louis is an essential break for thousands of Mauritian, who go to work everyday.  This spot also brings a few famous people that have marked the history of the island together.  A review...

Monday, 01 00pm.  Two taxi drivers relive yesterday's football match while sitting on one of the numerous benches at Place d'Armes.  Protected from the heat in the shade of palm trees, from time to time, they look at the unknown faces that are impatiently waiting for the traffic lights to switch to red in order to cross the road.           

Located in the centre of Port-Louis, this place daily sees thousand of passers-by, hurried to reach their workplace.  All the same, there are a few curious ones, mostly vacationers who are trying to decipher the inscriptions which embellished the countless statues erected here and there. 

Situated between the old government house and the seafront overlooking the harbour, the Place d'Armes is dominated by banking institutions and travel agencies.  Only the colonial-style building that houses the HSBC and the Mascarene Bank contrast with the modern buildings in the surroundings.  "We are in the middle of business area.  People here have always something to do and do not take time to look around them," says Salim in a regretful tone, in charge of the maintenance of the "Place."  Because being more than a mere path, the Place d'Armes houses famous statues who have contributed in their own way to develop the island since its discovery by the Dutch in 1598.  A guided-tour by Salim...        

A picturesque setting

Like a sentinel at the foot of the old Government House, the statue of Queen Victoria seems to watch over the numerous motorists who everyday drive along this road.  This representation in white marble once found amidst the eponymous railway station, located a few meters away from here.  It was moved shortly after the removal of the railway.  Facing it, on the seafront the statue of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the first Prime Minister of the island observes impassively whilst holding the Constitution.         

And in between, a few well-known figures depict the rich past of the island.  We can see amongst others, the bust of Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, who was the first president of the Republic of the island.  It coexists with the trade unionist Emmanuel Anquetil, who was also one of the leaders of the Labour Party, currently in power.  Also in the circle of local politics, is the statue of Dr Maurice Curé, an influential member of a political party as well.  Our guide shows us in the distance the statue of Mahé de Labourdonnais, a native of Saint-Malo, and who has made a career within the East India Company, prior becoming the governor of Ile de France (Mauritius) and Bourbon (Réunion Island).  All these famous people, underlined Salim, have marked in their own way the history of Mauritius at one time or another.         

Invaded by a steady stream of passers-by and cars during the day, the Place d'Armes found a complete calm after office hours.  That's the best time to visit this mythical site, far from the stressful bustles of the big cities.  We can hence enjoy the picturesque setting of this site in an orange-coloured sky and admire the sunset along the waterfront.