Martello Tower Museum Tour
To make the most out of your precious time in Mauritius, you’ve got to visit the Martello Tower Museum! This personalised guided tour is an opportunity to explore this historical monument, which has been authentically restored and is historically accurate. It’ll add an extra dimension to the Mauritian experience and puts you in the shoes of soldiers in the fort back in the days. Your journey starts on the ground floor of the tower, which used to be a store. The first floor was the living quarters of the soldiers, and the second floor is open to the sky with a magnificent view over the bay which the fort was built to defend.
Around 220 Martello Towers have been built by the British around the world, counting 5 in Mauritius, not long after taking possession of the island from the French. The Black River Martello Towers; one in La Preneuse and the other at Harmonie were completed in 1833.
Renovations and refurbishment started in 1992 and ended in the year 2000. After much research, the interior spaces were finally set up as they would have been when soldiers used them hundreds of years ago. Some of the original objects found in the tower include the musket butt stand, copper ventilation grilles, the traversing platform ironwork, cannon shot, military buttons amongst others on display in the museum.
The gun on the roof with the views over the Black River Bay is a scene right out of a movie. The first floor brings the past to life as you see the living quarters of the soldiers. You also have access to a small boutique, where you can purchase souvenirs and books to take back home.
Located next to a beautiful little public beach, overlooking Le Morne Mountain, the museum will surely offer you views to cherish for a lifetime!
About The Martello Tower Museum – Black River
The Martello Tower at La Preneuse is a declared national monument which Friends of the Environment renovated with the support and funding of the government, diplomatic missions and Mauritian businesses.
Friends of the Environment is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to defending, protecting and promoting our national heritage, whether it be tangible or intangible, in the domain of the historical or natural world: on land or at sea.
The Martello Tower Museum’s mission is to preserve this declared national monument, to be culturally and historically authentic and to operate the museum according to professional standards.
What to bring/wear
Phone or camera to capture the memories!
Martello Tower Museum is closed on:
Mondays, Thursdays, Sundays and the following public holidays: 1, 2, 3 Jan, 1 Feb, 12 March, 1 May & 25 Dec.