GRAND PORT 1810
Laying of First Stone
8.8.2009

On saturday 8 august, Marcel Lindsay Noë's dream became reality. After 13 years, the first stone of his Historic Village of Vieux Grand Port was laid by Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Leisure and External Communications, Xavier-Luc Duval, who, in his speech, welcomed this innovative project based upon Cultural Tourism and said that he hoped it would get up and running very quickly.

Noë, who is the conceptor and Managing Director of Preservation Patrimoine Maritime Ltd [PREPAMAR], couldn't agree more: "It will be ready in March 2010 in time for the celebrations of Grand Port 2010, bicentenary of the Battle of Grand Port which saw Napoleon's only naval victory."

The Historic Village will be a snapshot of the Vieux Grand Port of 1810, which saw the end of the French period and the beginning of the British one. Solid buildings will feature the architecture prevailing at the time but there will also be timber constructions and even military encampments under tents. A shell museum with a tactile aquaruim, a mask museum, an old distillery of essential oils, a smoke house, an apothecary's shop, a printer's shop, embroiderey shop and many other outlets that will allow the talented people in the nearby village - one of the most underpriviledged in the island - to market their products. The staff will be dressed in period costumes. A horse-driven Stagecoach will take viistors on a leisurely drive through the village. A Pirates Cove will be specially designed for the children.

An empowerment program will be put in place for the villagers with the government's help. A co-operative will be set up for organic farming of fruits and vegetables and the rearing of Free Range fowls.The fishermen in the area will also be coached and organised, with modern fishing methods introduced. Training in many alternative skill areas will be provided through a special aid program from Western Australia.

Behind the old architecture, cutting-edge technology will be functioning. The entrance to the Historic Village will be through a building reproducing the back of an old ship. On both side walls video banks will be playing the Battle of Grand Port - which took place right opposite the village - placing the spectator at the centre of the event. (If the visitor wishes to watch the full 30 min 3D animated documentary, he will proceed to a special projection room. Next to that room, interactive kiosks will provide games and presentations of relative subjects: life on a frigate, the captain's cabin etc.)

On the sea, "GREEN" Solar Powered electric catamarans will take people on Historic tours of the area, the cradle of the island's civilisation. Shuttle Boats will link the village to Ile aux Fouquets where the lighthouse will be rehabilitated and reactivated by PREPAMAR.

Accomodation in the form of Commodore's Quarters (luxury) and a Sailor's Village (medium level, specially aimed at lovers of the sea world-wide) and a 300 seat open-air ampitheatre, will ensure a lively village atmosphere day and night. On certain evenings, the village will come alive with a specially designed sound& light show.

The Gourmet Restaurant will be under the direction of a Mauritian chef who acquired his stripes in Australia, winning numerous awards for his successful fusion of mauritian and european-style cuisine. Snack Bars serving Fish & Chips, Brittany Crêpes and other local delicacies will dot the place. Only the freshest, organically grown fruits and vegetables will be used, as far as posible, as well as free-range fowls, game and, of course, the daily harvest from the sea.

Grand Port 1810 is also dedicated to the democratisation of the sport of sailing which until now has been the preserve of a chosen few. The Scouting movement will also be encouraged to set up a Sea Scout division where our country's youth will be taught the skills of the sea including life-saving.

Grand Port 1810 aims at being the first Carbon Neutral project in Mauritius. Solar and wind power will be used and excess energy sold to the grid. Desalination, recycling etc. will all be high up on the agenda.

The promotors are totally committed to an early integration into the local community providing direct and indirect jobs but also full support in all the areas of life.

Grand Port 1810 heralds a new era in Tourism in Mauritius... Cultural Tourism... as we promote our extremely rich maritime heritage and return to our former glory of being the Star & the Key of the Indian Ocean.