Grand Port District

Grand Port is where Mauritius began—and where the British Empire suffered its most humiliating naval defeat. Dutch settlers landed at what became Old Grand Port in 1598, establishing the first European foothold in 1638 with Fort Frederik Hendrik at the foot of Lion Mountain. The Battle of Grand Port in August 1810 represents the only naval engagement inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe: French frigates trapped and destroyed a British squadron in the harbor, a victory so exceptional that Napoleon immortalized it in stone. The British returned months later with 60 ships and 10,000 troops, overwhelming French defenses and taking Mauritius permanently—but Grand Port's moment of glory endures. Mahébourg, the district's main town, preserves this history in the National History Museum housed in the building where wounded captains from both fleets received medical treatment together. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Mauritius' sole international gateway handling over 1.4 million tourists annually, occupies the district's southern portion—making Grand Port both first impression and last memory for most visitors. The harbor that witnessed 1810's naval clash now provides Blue Bay Marine Park's protected waters and the beach access that distinguishes southeastern Mauritius from the more developed north. By 2026, Grand Port's combination of airport gateway, historic sites, and less-developed coastline positions it for tourism growth as saturated districts approach capacity limits.