The Caudan Waterfront is distinguished by its architecture, which blends modernity with references to heritage. The complex comprises four main buildings: Barkly Wharf (the first building constructed), the Observatory, Dias Pier, and the Caudan Arts Centre.

The Observatory takes its name from its original function: this building housed the first meteorological and astronomical observatory in the Indian Ocean, established in 1832 during the British colonial period. Scottish meteorologist Charles Meldrum directed the observatory in the 1860s, analyzing ships' logbooks to understand cyclone patterns. A rare event, the transit of Venus on December 9, 1874, was observed from the tower by British astronomers, an event commemorated today by a plaque on the building.

Shopping and crafts

The Caudan Waterfront offers a diverse range of shops with around a hundred boutiques featuring local and international brands. As Mauritius is a major textile producer, you'll find factory outlets offering clothing from top brands at affordable prices, alongside luxury boutiques specializing in jewelry.

The Craft Market

The Caudan Craft Market offers a wide variety of local handicrafts from Mauritius and Rodrigues. Located in a two-story building within the Caudan Waterfront complex, the Craft Market has 36 stalls.

Visitors will find carved wooden objects, wicker baskets, colorful scented candles, freshly ground spices, elegant linens, and handmade jewelry. It's the perfect place to find spices, basketry, paintings, or, of course, model ships. Model ships are recognized worldwide as a hallmark of Mauritian craftsmanship, showcasing meticulous attention to detail and expertise passed down through generations, exemplified by models of famous vessels like L'Argonaute and L'Intrépide.

Culture and museums

The Blue Penny Museum

The Blue Penny Museum is a private museum founded by the Mauritius Commercial Bank which opened to the public in 2001. It is located in a colonial-inspired building on the Caudan Waterfront.

The museum houses the famous original Blue Penny and Red Penny stamps issued by the Mauritian postal service in 1847, among the rarest stamps in the world. These stamps were purchased in 1993 in Switzerland for two million dollars by a consortium of Mauritian companies, led by the Mauritius Commercial Bank. These stamps are considered a national treasure and are probably the most valuable objects on the entire island.

For conservation reasons, the originals are illuminated for only ten minutes every hour, at the quarter hour, in order to protect these philatelic pieces from the aging and destructive effect of the sun's rays.

The museum also houses the original statue of Paul and Virginia, sculpted in 1881 by Prosper d'Épinay. This superbly realistic statue by the Mauritian artist Prosper d'Épinay depicts the young hero carrying his beloved through a raging torrent, based on Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's novel Paul and Virginia.

Practical information:

• Opening hours: 10am to 4:30pm Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays and public holidays
• Prices: 325 Mauritian rupees (adult), 200 rupees (children and students), 820 rupees (family of 2 adults and 2 children)

The Caudan Arts Centre

The Caudan Arts Centre, located along the Port Louis seafront, was inaugurated in December 2018. Designed by the late Maurice Giraud and Didier Ho Architecture, in collaboration with Arup Venues UK, the Caudan Arts Centre is a world-class venue with state-of-the-art acoustics and technology capable of hosting a wide variety of event types.

The theatre has a capacity of 431 comfortable and well-designed seats, with state-of-the-art technology including top-of-the-line lighting and sound, live broadcast and streaming facilities, and a broadband connection.

The Caudan Arts Centre regularly hosts exhibitions by established and emerging Mauritian artists, as well as international artists. Its main exhibition space, The Playground, offers a prime location at the entrance to the Caudan Arts Centre with extraordinary views of the Ruisseau du Pouce and the Bassin des Chaloupes.

L'Entracte, located on the ground floor of the Caudan Arts Centre, is a restaurant-bar that offers an artistic and welcoming atmosphere with a diverse menu of food and drinks.

Food and entertainment

The Caudan Waterfront offers numerous restaurants where you can choose dishes from all over the world. A dining area furnished with tables and chairs under parasols provides a place to take a break between shopping sessions.

The complex also houses a casino, a cinema, and two luxury hotels. The resort features a variety of shops, banking services, the luxurious five-star Hotel Le Labourdonnais, and a marina.

Access and transport

The Metro Express is one of the most efficient ways to reach the Caudan Waterfront, with a station located within easy walking distance. This modern tram system connects various key locations and offers a reliable and environmentally friendly mode of transport, with trains running frequently throughout the day.

The bus is also another convenient way to get around the island and easily reach the Caudan Waterfront, with many routes serving Port Louis.

Conclusion

The Caudan Waterfront is much more than just a shopping center. It's a vibrant hub where visitors can discover Mauritian history through its museums, immerse themselves in local crafts at the Craft Market, enjoy cultural events at the Arts Centre, and take advantage of a diverse range of shops and restaurants. Its prime location overlooking the historic port of Port Louis and its architecture, which blends heritage and modernity, make it an essential stop on any visit to Mauritius.