What Is the Le Morne Cultural Landscape?
Le Morne Brabant is a 1,824-foot (556-meter) basaltic monolith at the southwesternmost tip of Mauritius!
What Makes It Historical?
From 1638 until 1835, European powers (Dutch, French, and English) imported slaves to Mauritius from across the Indian Ocean, mostly from Madagascar and the east coast of Africa, to cut ebony trees, collect rare tortoises, and work fields of primarily sugar! Under French rule, the roles of enslaved folks expanded to include artisans and builders of infrastructure, which meant 80% of the island’s population was enslaved by the end of French rule! Of those, around 12% are believed to have escaped, hiding away in caves on the sheer faces of Le Morne and building entire communities called maroons! The most prominent maroons on Le Morne were known as Trou Chenille and Makak!
In 2004, UNESCO started planning a commemorative monument at the base of Le Morne near a place called Belle Vue or the “Valley of Bones.” According to legend, this is where maroon residents misinterpreted the arrival of police, sent to tell them slavery was abolished, and leapt from the top of Le Morne for fear they would be recaptured! Today’s International Slave Route Monument is built in radiating lines around the Central Rock: Escape sculpture, which depicts the tragedy of 1835, and all around it are nine walkways pointing to other places where enslaved folks came from en route to Mauritius: Mozambique, Malaysia, India, and more. The entry walkway points west toward Madagascar and mainland Africa!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the World Heritage Volunteers!
- Donate to UNESCO!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
Le Morne Trailhead:
- 20°27’36.3″S, 57°19’37.9″E
International Slave Route Monument:
- East side of Le Morne Road
Across from Le Morne Public Beach
Le Morne, Mauritius
When Should I Visit?
The International Slave Route Monument opens daily at 9:30 AM and closes at 3:30 PM on weekdays, 3:00 PM on Saturdays, and 12:00 PM on Sundays! Access to the trailhead is listed as daily from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, but when I was there, closing time was 2:00 PM. Plan accordingly!
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