Château de Labourdonnais

Visit & Tour of Château de Labourdonnais

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This visit and tour of Chateau de Labourdonnais is a ballad back in history. With a visit to the
Chateau, its gardens and orchards, this package guarantees a beautiful moment of quietness
with a touch of history to it.

The visit does not stop inside the Château de Labourdonnais. You are invited to discover the
sublime estate housing the Mauritian colonial building; a magical place cut off from the world,
where history, nature, gastronomy and Mauritian know-how come together. To make it all even
sweeter, you will have the opportunity to taste some fruit jellies and rum made at the estate.
That’s not all! Optionally, you can explore the Underground Museum, a hidden gem that reveals
the estate’s agricultural roots, showcasing an ancient passageway once housing the factory’s
furnace. You’ll also have the opportunity to make some new friends at the animal farm, where
encounters with rabbits, tortoises, chickens, goats, and more await amidst picturesque
surroundings.

Rest assured, a knowledgeable guide will accompany you throughout your journey at Domaine
de Labourdonnais when booking the extended visits to the Underground Museum & Animal
Farm.

Tour of the Château de Labourdonnais

Built in 1856 and inhabited by a Mauritian family for over 150 years, the Château de
Labourdonnais invites visitors to discover the 19th-century art of living in Mauritius. Intendance
trees (Ficus Retusa) stand on the sides of the path leading up to the Château de Labourdonnais,
where an exciting historical and cultural visit awaits.

Let the French flair of the place transport you through time as you walk through the rooms and
halls of the Chateau. Some elements of the building have been restored and every element is an
ode to the French colonisation era of the island.

Visit of the Château de Labourdonnais Gardens, Orchards and Fruit Jellies Tasting
After visiting the château, you can stroll through the lush gardens and old orchards where large
fairways invite you for a promenade, displaying the horticultural wealth of the region.
As part of the tour of the gardens you will get to see hundred-year-old mango trees, spice trees
such as nutmeg and clove, as well as several exotic fruit trees such as the pomme jacot, the
sapote, the jamalac and the Kythira plum. During the walk in the gardens, you will come across
giant Aldabra tortoises grazing peacefully.

Furthermore, the large orchards used for fruit cultivation such as papayas, mangoes, guavas or
passion fruit are used in the manufacturing of the Labourdonnais product range preserving the
traditional flavours without the use of any colorings or artificial flavours. Your visit includes a
tasting session of the fruit jellies & jams made at the estate. A sweet moment you would want to
last longer.

The Distillery and Rum Tasting

In an attempt to diversify its sugarcane production activity, Domaine de Labourdonnais created
La Rhumerie des Mascareignes in 2006, which was later renamed La Distillerie de
Labourdonnais. This distillery combines unique know-how and quality rums to produce original
recipes for tastefully authentic rums.

You are welcomed to discover the world-famous ranges of rums, which were proudly awarded
ten medals over the years by various programmes praising the quality of liquors. The ranges of
rums are appreciated for their finesse and conservation methods.

Your visit includes a rum tasting session. This opportunity to taste some of the finest rums of the
estate will be one of the highlights of your visit.

The distillery produces the following ranges of rum:

Classic range

The “Classic” range comprises different white and amber rums, offering different aromas and
flavours for rum enthusiasts’ greatest pleasure.

Fusion range

The “Fusion” range offers a selection of refined rums made from fruits and spices harvested on
Domaine de Labourdonnais. The mix results from a natural maceration of fruits and spices from
their orchards, which are then fermented for up to three months before being filtered and bottled.

The flavours available are: vanilla, species, ginger, coffee-vanilla, calamondin and lemongrass.
Prestige range – Old rums

The rum cellar holds several types of barrels and the rums are aged in old Cognac, Bourbon, Port
or American Whisky barrels, as well as new Sauternes and French oak casks. These ageing
processes enhance the different rums, giving them their exceptional aromas.

In addition to the visit of the Château de Labourdonnais, you can also enjoy
visiting

The Boutique – La Boutique du Château offers many typically Mauritian souvenirs and gifts, as
well as Domaine de Labourdonnais products, local craftsmen’s confections, clothes and
decorative objects.

La Table du Château – a unique refined cuisine inspired by the fruits and vegetables from the
Labourdonnais’ orchards in a contemporary setting which offers a culinary experience that leads
to the discovery of the Mauritian flavours. Open 8am to 11pm every day & 8am to 3pm on
Sunday – Booking recommended.

La Terrasse: La Terrasse is a warm café with a convivial atmosphere. It offers a simple and
tasty cuisine, comprising typical Mauritian dishes and other more European options like salads,
sandwiches, paninis, toasties, quiches and pasta. Open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon coffee
breaks, La Terrasse is a peaceful place full of charm. Open 7.45am to 5pm from Monday to
Friday & from 8am to 12.30pm on Saturdays (except on public holidays)

La Corbeille: La Corbeille is a delicatessen offering a variety of local products, including those
made by Les Vergers de Labourdonnais and La Distillerie de Labourdonnais – jams, fruit pastes
and juices, rums as well as a selection of imported products. La Corbeille also offers fruits &
vegetables, ensuring it sells only the freshest ingredients and greatest quality products.

Comments & Notes

Last admission is at 16.00
Guests must leave their backpack & drink bottles at the entrance.
No flash is allowed while taking pictures.
Guests are not allowed to touch anything in the Château.
The Château de Labourdonnais is also available for events and private functions (receptions,
weddings, cocktails…). Contact us for more info.
La Boutique, La Corbeille, and the 2 restaurants are subject to an extra cost, payable onsite.
No alcohol included in the children’s tasting.
Château ground floor is accessible to wheelchairs with the help of our staff. Virtual visit to the 1st
floor is possible from the ground floor.
The Underground Museum is not accessible to wheelchairs.
The Visit to the Underground Museum (optional) cannot be done if it rains.
A knowledgeable guide will accompany you throughout the whole journey when booking the
extended visits to the Underground Museum & Animal Farm.
Visit of the Chateau: 09:00 – 17:00 (last admission at 16:00)
Underground Museum Visit: 09:30, 11:30 or 14:30
The Boutique: 09:00 – 17:00
The duration of the entire visit is about 1 hour
The tour is offered every day.
(No guided tours on Sundays and Public Holidays.)