Capital and main port of Mauritius, the city was founded by the French Governor, Mahé de Labourdonnais, in 1735. The harbour is sheltered by a semicircle of mountains. The city has plenty of character, and, in some quarters, signs of its past elegance are still evident. Off the main square, the palm-lined Place d’Armes, there are some particularly fine French colonial buildings, especially Government House (built in 1738) and the Municipal Theatre, built around the same time. There are two cathedrals, one Protestant and one Catholic, a fine Supreme Court Building, some 18th-century barracks and the Natural History Museum (exhibiting Mauritius’s most famous bird, the extinct Dodo). On the outskirts of the city, at the foot of the mountains, is the Champ de Mars, originally laid out by the French for military parades, and now a racecourse. The splendid Edward VII Avenue and Fort Adelaide, a citadel fortified in the time of William IV, offer the best views of the racecourse, city and harbour. South of Port Louis is Le Réduit, the French colonial residence of the President of Mauritius, set in magnificent gardens. Other places of interest include the Jummah Mosque in Royal Street and the Chinese Pagoda.

EXCURSIONS: The Domaine Les Pailles nature park nestling at the foot of the Moka mountain range covers an area of 3000 acres. Among the attractions are a natural spring, a spice garden, a replica of a sugar mill and an old rum distillery. Trips through the park in 4-wheel-drive vehicles, horse-drawn carriages or trains are also possible.

Port Louis, city (1996 est. pop. 135,371), capital of Mauritius, NW Mauritius, a port on the Indian Ocean. It is the nation's largest city and its economic and administrative center. Its economy is dominated by its well-sheltered port, which handles Mauritius's international trade; there are extensive facilities for processing and storing sugar, the main export. Port Louis is connected with the interior of the country by railroads and roads and has an international airport. Manufacturing is dominated by garments and textiles, but also includes chemicals, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. Tourism is important, as are high-tech services. Port Louis was founded in 1735 by Bertrand FranCois MahE de La Bourdonnais, governor of the French colony on Mauritius (then called Ile de France). The population of Port Louis is now largely made up of the descendants of laborers who immigrated from India in the 19th cent. The hill-top Citadel (1838) dominates the city, which is laid out in a rectangular pattern. The Mauritius Institute (1880), which studies the island's flora and fauna and operates a natural history and an art museum, is in Port Louis.