Chateau De Labourdonnais, Mapou

We saw the chateau online before we arrived on our holiday and it seemed very interesting to have a look around. The chateau is beautiful and has been well restored back to original style. The grounds around it really give it a feeling like your stepping back in time. It Feels like you walked into a scene in the movies. Interesting features around the house but we liked the garden and orchid best. Take your mosquito repellant though as it is dark and shaded in the orchid so my wife got bitten a few times. The giant tortoises are fantastic and huge in person. The rum tasting was very generous. They showed us seven options and practically had one of each. We only expected to be able to state a couple each. Although the rum wasn't too or taste my wife found 'fruit paste' sweets. Similar to her home in Mexico she sampled them with the rum and had to buy a kg for herself and friends. For 400rs excluding the gifts it's well worth the money.

The colonial house is beautiful! Although all the info and recordings are in French. The rum tasting was disappointing though, was expecting a full tasting experience but only got to taste 2 rums and had to pay extra if you want more.

We visited on 11 May 2022. So expensive - 400 rupees each to enter the site and do the tour. We elected not to do so. But we had lunch at their restaurant - also very expensive. While the place is OK for a quick visit you will find it hard to justify the prices for entry and food / drinks. But if you can work your head around these high prices then you are likely to enjoy your visit. Find Nomadic Charles and / or Luxury Travel Camel on Instagram for more comments and photo’s.

If you enjoy: - History - Architecture - Nature - Elegance and class You should definetly check this place out. Alot of work has gone into preserving not only the structure but overall beauty of the place. From the paint colours, artifacts to the on going business in the area. It is crazy to see how such an old place rich for it's history can still cope up with modern business and continue to flourish. It's a great place for a days trip, spectacular views, definetly insta worthy place. A great place to bring family and friends, to enjoy and learn of the deep history of the building and it's previous occupants. For me personally the highlight was well preserves accounting invoices, receipts and journals. As an accountant it's amazing to see that the technique and skill of recording ones finances has lasted so many years. Truly worth the trip and would highly recommend to check the place out. Apart from the main house, the area has multiple attractions. From Old tortoises to various types of plants grown in the back ground that makes it ideal for the business to thrive on the production of sweets, alcohol, fresh juice etc. Do make the trip.

Amazing colonial home, beautiful design and architecture. Lots of history well explained and presented. The fruit orchards ate beautiful and I would recommend buying the tasting package so you can try some of the estates great produce.