La Demeure St Antoine: A journey into the past

Once you step in, this magical place will take you back into 19th century Mauritius. Niched in the North, “La Demeure de Saint Antoine” will charm you with its authentic elegance and colonial architecture and design. Converted into a guesthouse, this journey to discover the rich Mauritian heritage is definitely worth it. Turn back the hands of time and immerse in the 19th century colonial lifestyle and discover the story of a Mauritian family. Found in Goodlands village, La Demeure Saint Antoine stands in all its splendour and glamour. Surrounded by a peaceful garden, the ‘demeure’ has kept all its authenticity and country charm of yesteryear through its architecture made of wood and stone with its colonnaded veranda. The house has a central hallway which connects, on one side, the rooms and on the other, the lounge and the billiard room. The dining room is, according to the Mauritian tradition, separated from the central building and connected by a paved and shaded passageway. Belonging to the ancestors of the de Grivel family, the colonial demeure was converted into an elegant and distinctive guesthouse in recent years. The story of the colonial house started in the 1830’s. Edmond de Chazal purchased a parcel of land, namely the concession Poudre d’Or, where he built a house which he named Saint Antoine, his mother’s maiden name. During his lifetime, Edmond de Chazal worked for the liberation of slaves and managed to expand the field, particularly by developing irrigation. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"17473","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-29685","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"1024","height":"335","alt":"La Demeure St Antoine"}}]] One of his sons, Regis de Chazal, became the sole owner of Saint Antoine after having bought the share of his siblings. He continued to develop the family business, built houses for the workers, a school for their children, the first school in the area and erected a hospital, encouraged at the time by Father Laval. Around 1922, Régis de Chazal decided to go to France for a long stay with his two daughters Irene and Olga after having lost his two sons. However, he never quit the management of the factory. Years later, the whole family returned to Mauritius including Olga, daughter of Régis De Chazal, along with her two children Marcel and Claire. The two went to Europe during the war and came back married. Marcel and Claire’s husbands jointly managed the factory. It is in 1990 that Marcel and Claire sold the factory. Claire has remained until now, (she is still alive) the sole owner of the house. “We wanted to preserve the historical appearance of the premises and offer the chance to Mauritians to see the wonders that hide in the remains. La Demeure Saint Antoine has now been converted into a guesthouse. We welcome residents on Tuesdays to Saturdays, on reservation only. We also host events such as weddings and conferences,” explains Anne-Dauphie de Grivel. For one night or the week-end, you can rent one of the four romantic rooms of La Demeure de Saint Antoine. The rooms come with fully equipped bathrooms and guests are offered breakfast on the veranda. You can also enjoy an authentic and refined cuisine whether for lunch or dinner in a historical setting. The restaurant of the Demeure Saint Antoine is open for lunch and dinner (on reservation) where you will have the chance to taste exquisite local dishes such as the Java deer stew with tamarind or chicken curry with fresh shrimps. While staying overnight or dining at the restaurant you will have the opportunity to visit the property. The demeure is also available for parties, corporate events, or themed parties.