City of sunshine
By Raghav Ramful
Published on 25th July, 2008
Bustling throughout the day and night, Rose Hill, mostly a commercial town, remains at the crossroads of major business, cultural and sports activities. Easily accessible from the capital, Port Louis at only some 11 km away, from Moka through Ebène, and Quatre Bornes, it remains the ideal place for the flourishing of the cultural activities of the country.
One of the most significant monuments and a landmark of culture in Rose Hill is the Plaza, built in 1933, that became the biggest theatre in the Indian Ocean. Although it is now awaiting major renovation works, the theatre has preserved its majestic and imposing trademark colonial structure with wooden roof. Its green lawns harbour a decorative fountain right in front of the building. The Plaza was earlier renovated in 1983 and was equipped with air conditioning in 1994. Rose Hill also accomodates Centre Charles Baudelaire and the British Council.
On the other hand, Rose Hill is also a centre for sports activities with its Sir Gaëtan Duval stadium, erected behind the market in 1957 on a cemetery. The Boulodrome adds to the town’s sporty cachet. The Quorum, a full-fledged gymnasium meant for various international sports competitions stands on a site that was earlier a butchery.
Rose Hill breathes dynamism and youth during school days with the traffic centre always packed with buses pouring in college students from all over the island.
Ever wondered how the town got its name? Well, it comes from the Corps de Garde Mountain right in the back yard of the town that reflects hues of pink at dawn and dusk.
The name of Rose Hill was officially retained in 1868 when it was declared a village. Earlier the place was referred to as Roche Bonne at the time when there existed a sugar mill belonging to Mr Blondeau. The sugar estate stretched from the Plaines Wilhems River to Hugnin Street. In 1852, the road winding towards Moka was laid. As the Midlands railway line and Moka Flacq Line met at Rose Hill, the place beamed with activity and grew in importance. In 1870, the first church in the area, Sainte-Anne was erected at Stanley on a piece of land donated by Sir Célicourt Antelme, owner of the Stanley sugar mill. Sir Célicourt, who was well known in Rose Hill also bought many small sugar mills in the vicinity to widen his estate. Thus Ebène sugar mill, Plaisance, Roches Brunes, Mont-Roches and Cascade were run by him.
In 1890, the Notre Dame de Lourdes parish was opened to the public. In the 20th century, the first Adventist church and the first Ahmadi mosque were built in Rose Hill.
Further down towards Port Louis lies Beau Bassin, another pleasant town, much less commercial compared to Rose Hill. Beau Bassin is mostly residential with its grand mansions with their proud colonial build on the edge of River Plaines Willhems seperating Réduit from Beau Bassin.
Beau Bassin, because of its appealing climate has attracted a lot of wealthy officers of the British raj who built huge houses and settled there. The names given to these houses and property have stood the test of time. Even now, Harewood Park, Summerfield, The Oaks and Saint Cloud are common property names in the area.
The Thabor, which was earlier known as Llewellyn belonged to a Lloyd engineer of public works. He constructed this medieval castle on the edge of the cliff overlooking the River Plaines Wilhems and named it after his son Llewellyn.
Beau Bassin with a character of its own has rich history and was a dwelling place for many important personalities who have marked Mauritian history. Even many of its streets are named after them. It would be worth having a closer look at what makes Beau Bassin stand out from other towns.
On the other hand, Rose Hill is also a centre for sports activities with its Sir Gaëtan Duval stadium, erected behind the market in 1957 on a cemetery. The Boulodrome adds to the town’s sporty cachet. The Quorum, a full-fledged gymnasium meant for various international sports competitions stands on a site that was earlier a butchery.Rose Hill breathes dynamism and youth during school days with the traffic centre always packed with buses pouring in college students from all over the island.
Ever wondered how the town got its name? Well, it comes from the Corps de Garde Mountain right in the back yard of the town that reflects hues of pink at dawn and dusk.
The name of Rose Hill was officially retained in 1868 when it was declared a village. Earlier the place was referred to as Roche Bonne at the time when there existed a sugar mill belonging to Mr Blondeau. The sugar estate stretched from the Plaines Wilhems River to Hugnin Street. In 1852, the road winding towards Moka was laid. As the Midlands railway line and Moka Flacq Line met at Rose Hill, the place beamed with activity and grew in importance. In 1870, the first church in the area, Sainte-Anne was erected at Stanley on a piece of land donated by Sir Célicourt Antelme, owner of the Stanley sugar mill. Sir Célicourt, who was well known in Rose Hill also bought many small sugar mills in the vicinity to widen his estate. Thus Ebène sugar mill, Plaisance, Roches Brunes, Mont-Roches and Cascade were run by him.
In 1890, the Notre Dame de Lourdes parish was opened to the public. In the 20th century, the first Adventist church and the first Ahmadi mosque were built in Rose Hill.Further down towards Port Louis lies Beau Bassin, another pleasant town, much less commercial compared to Rose Hill. Beau Bassin is mostly residential with its grand mansions with their proud colonial build on the edge of River Plaines Willhems seperating Réduit from Beau Bassin.
Beau Bassin, because of its appealing climate has attracted a lot of wealthy officers of the British raj who built huge houses and settled there. The names given to these houses and property have stood the test of time. Even now, Harewood Park, Summerfield, The Oaks and Saint Cloud are common property names in the area.
The Thabor, which was earlier known as Llewellyn belonged to a Lloyd engineer of public works. He constructed this medieval castle on the edge of the cliff overlooking the River Plaines Wilhems and named it after his son Llewellyn.
Beau Bassin with a character of its own has rich history and was a dwelling place for many important personalities who have marked Mauritian history. Even many of its streets are named after them. It would be worth having a closer look at what makes Beau Bassin stand out from other towns.