PORT MATHURIN WALKING TOUR

Claire and Christian's lovely café in downtown Port Mathurin is the starting point for this 2h15 cultural tour of the capital's history and memories. Since it all began here, on the spot where the city was later built, this walking tour is one of the best introductions to the country. Like Rodrigues Friendly's other immersive and unique excursions (this time by the day), the walk is brilliantly led by Christian, who knows how to bring to life every building and make every reference to the past fascinating. Anecdotes and explanations abound throughout the fifteen stops in the alleyways of this small pocket capital, built on water and no bigger than its 2 ^km2. Christian's words bring to life the men and events that have marked and shaped the island's destiny. It was in 1691 that François Leguat established the French colony on the banks of a river. Christian recounts the influence of Father Gandy, that of the Creole house "Centre Carrefour" built in 1872 by the Church, the importance of the post office where letters were delivered by auction, the role of the Residence, which is adorned with an object that we all regularly carry in our pockets, the incredible story of the cannon that came from Mesopotamia, or the Rodriguan flag with its nine symbols... and so many other "little stories" that, as the brochure says, "take us far away". Don't forget to book in advance!