Le Morne: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Majestic and spectacular, Le Morne Brabant is a spiritual as well as natural sanctuary with high symbolic value about the resistance to slavery. Classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, it is now known as the Le Morne Cultural Landscape. Located on the southwestern tip of the island, Le Morne Cultural Landscape contains the giant basaltic monolith of Le Morne Brabant, a mountain on this peninsula mostly surrounded by the sea. A natural fortress and monument, the Le Morne Brabant Mountain was used as a retreat in the 18th and early 19th centuries when groups of slaves escaped the control of their masters to seek refuge in the caves and slopes of the mountain. Associated with maroons, Le Morne is thus a symbol of the slaves’ fight for freedom, their suffering, and their sacrifices. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"10200","attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-17033 aligncenter","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"572","height":"322","alt":"Le-Morne1"}}]]The UNESCO website explains the strong bond between the inhabitants and the mountain: “A village called Trou Chenilles was established for freed slaves on the southern foot of Le Morne Mountain. The village was hit by a cyclone in 1945 and moved to a location further east along the coast. It was moved again in 1964 to the present location of Le Morne Village, to the southeast of Le Morne Mountain along the coast. It is largely inhabited by Creoles, descendants of maroon slaves who lived on and around Le Morne Mountain. The village residents have maintained a spiritual connection with Le Morne Mountain which they regard as sacred. The community is custodian to traditions including music, dance, story-telling and cuisines handed down from their slave ancestors.” Today Le Morne Cultural Landscape through the Le Morne Heritage Trust Fund which operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Arts and Culture is preserved and promoted as a historical, cultural, environmental and ecological site. A tourist site as well, Le Morne and its warm and welcoming village is a must visit for all. If you wish to get away from the stressful city life, Le Morne is the place to be, given its favoured position and extreme natural beauty. Known as one of the island’s best beach destinations, Le Morne is the ideal place for a Sunday picnic or beach day among friends. Water sports can also be practised on the public beach. The famous natural landmark is also home to a broad variety of endemic plant species, and is the only habitat in Mauritius where the national flower, the ‘Trochetia boutoniana’ can be found. Do not miss to visit the Slave Route Monument found at the foot of the mountain. The monument is located in a garden with native vegetation. The monument is be integrated with the restored natural environment of the peninsula and the western cliff and slope of the mountain as a setting. The monument was purposefully erected at this particular area of the landscape because of its linear connection between the sea, beach, a historical and legendary place called ‘Valley of Bones’ and the west cliff face.