Curepipe

Dubbed “The City of Light,” Curepipe is, ironically, often wrapped in mist, its highland setting surrounded by forests and sculpted by long-dormant volcanic features. The town’s name likely traces back to the French phrase curer sa pipe, meaning “to clean one’s pipe,” a nod to its past as a rest stop for travellers crossing the island. One of its key landmarks, Trou aux Cerfs, is a dormant volcanic crater that draws visitors to its circular rim for broad views over the island. The Domaine des Aubineaux, a colonial house turned museum on the Mauritian Tea Route, offers visitors a glimpse into the island’s tea history and French colonial past through garden trails and period architecture. Just beyond, the compact Botanical Garden provides a quiet retreat with endemic plant species and shaded paths. The town’s streets reflect a colonial past, with French-inspired architecture seen in the Town Hall and several historic churches.