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State House, Mauritius

January 07, 2023

The State House (French: Le Château de Réduit) is the official residence of the President of Mauritius. Originally Le Réduit, it was built as a fortress for defence against attack by Pierre Félix Barthelemy David in 1749. The mansion is in Réduit, Moka, near of the University of Mauritius and the end of the Plaines Wilhems District. It used to serve as the residence for former governors of Mauritius, but now it is the residence of the President. It is built on 97 hectares (240 acres) of land. The château has a garden where a multitude of flowers grow, as well as exotic and native trees. The château is open to the public two days a year, in October and March. The house has persisted through history; it was destroyed by a cyclone, rebuilt, and has been renovated since. It is also used by the military.[1]

The State House
Le Chateau de Réduit
General information
Architectural styleOld Palace
Old Mansion
Town or cityRéduit, Moka
CountryMauritius
Construction startedJuly 1748
Technical details
Size97 ha (240 acres)
Floor area5,100 m2 (55,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Pierre Félix Barthelemy David

History

Construction and French rule

 
Le Réduit, circa 1880s-1890s

Pierre Félix Barthelemy David, successor of Bertrand Mahé de Labourdonnais, took office as Governor of the Isle de France on 8 October 1746 during a time of Anglo-French rivalry for colonial possessions in the Indian Ocean. His main goals was to take measures to fortify the island against an enemy attack. In a letter dated 28 March 1748, addressed to the management of the "Compagnie des Indes", he expressed his fears and anxiety to find a place in the interior of the island where access would be difficult and where a fortress could be built. This would protect women and valuables.

The Governor went into action before even receiving a reply from the authorities as he considered it necessary for the fortress to be completed quickly. David settled on an ideal site – a spur in the Moka Range, triangular in shape between steep gorges of the rivers Profonde and Cascade. However, in July 1748, Edward Boscawen, an English vice-admiral commanding an English fleet, approached Mauritius with intentions to take possession of it. He retreated because of French cannons situated at Petite Rivière. The French Company finally authorised David's project, aware of the attack. Under the direction of David, his "Le Réduit", a small fortress with battlements and a drawbridge, was completed in 1749. In 1754, one of the directors of the "Compagnie des Indes", Mr. Godeheu d'Igoville had doubted that Le Réduit would be able to withstand sustained attacks, although he admired David's work.

Under the administration of his successor, Jean Baptiste Charles de Lozier-Bouvet, botanist Jean-Baptiste Christophe Fusée-Aublet created the French garden of Le Réduit and later introduced many rare plants from America, Asia and Europe. Pepper plants and cinnamon trees were added by Antoine Marie Desforges-Boucher, last governor of the "Compagnie des Indes".

The Island became the property of France in 1764 and Le Réduit became the official residence of the governors, the first of whom was Jean Daniel Dumas. Despite many modifications made during the period 1764–1778 the Château was in ruins in 1778 due to white ants. Antoine de Guiran La Brillane, then governor, started reconstruction which was completed that year. A year later, on 28 April 1779, La Brillane died in Le Réduit. An inscription dated 1778 on the main door commemorates the reconstruction.

Successive governors followed La Brillane until 1810, when the English took possession of the island. The last French governor was Charles Mathieu Isidore Decaen. The First English Governor was Sir Robert Townsend Farquhar. Under the rule of Sir Robert, two botanists, Boyer and Helsenberg, explored Madagascar and the African coasts in search of rare plants for the gardens.

British rule

Under the British rule, many modifications were brought to the Château. It needed extensive repairs after damage caused to it by cyclones in 1868 and 1892. The Château was saved from complete destruction during the cyclone in 1892 by the efforts of Governor Sir Henry Jerningham and his assistants. Sir Hesketh Bell was known to have taken an interest in the gardens of Le Réduit. He created an islet in the middle of the lake, linked by a bridge. He also installed a fountain on the north side of the Château. He also introduced many plants from Kew Gardens, London, and other plants from Ceylon.

In 1921, he constructed a memorial named "Le Temple de l'Amour" in Pierre Félix Barthelemy David's memory. This is situated near the ornamental lake at the end of the garden called "Bout du Monde" – from where one can see below the confluence of the rivers Profonde and Cascade. There is a marble inscription on the floor of the memorial which reads:

"TO M. BARTHELEMY DAVID / Gouverneur de l'Isle de France 1746 / the creator of Le Réduit / his Grateful Successors"

Independence

On 12 March 1968 Mauritius achieved independence and Sir John Shaw Rennie became the first Governor-General. In September 1968, Sir Arthur Leonard Williams succeeded Sir John. Sir Arthur died on 27 December 1972 and was buried in the cemetery of St. John, situated in the proximity of the Château. In 1972 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed Sir Raman Osman as the first Mauritian Governor-General. Sir Raman retired on 31 October 1977. Since this date, the office of Governor-General was held in an acting capacity by Sir Henry Garrioch, Sir Dayendranath Burrenchobay, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, and Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo in January 1986.

List of occupants

See also

References

  1. ^ "Le Reduit". Mauritius Delight.

External links

  • Photos from Panoramio.com

Coordinates: 20°13′44″S 57°29′13″E / 20.229°S 57.487°E / -20.229; 57.487

January 07, 2023
state, house, mauritius, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, ju. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources State House Mauritius news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message The State House French Le Chateau de Reduit is the official residence of the President of Mauritius Originally Le Reduit it was built as a fortress for defence against attack by Pierre Felix Barthelemy David in 1749 The mansion is in Reduit Moka near of the University of Mauritius and the end of the Plaines Wilhems District It used to serve as the residence for former governors of Mauritius but now it is the residence of the President It is built on 97 hectares 240 acres of land The chateau has a garden where a multitude of flowers grow as well as exotic and native trees The chateau is open to the public two days a year in October and March The house has persisted through history it was destroyed by a cyclone rebuilt and has been renovated since It is also used by the military 1 The State HouseLe Chateau de ReduitGeneral informationArchitectural styleOld Palace Old MansionTown or cityReduit MokaCountryMauritiusConstruction startedJuly 1748Technical detailsSize97 ha 240 acres Floor area5 100 m2 55 000 sq ft Design and constructionArchitect s Pierre Felix Barthelemy David Contents 1 History 1 1 Construction and French rule 1 2 British rule 1 3 Independence 2 List of occupants 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditConstruction and French rule Edit Le Reduit circa 1880s 1890s Pierre Felix Barthelemy David successor of Bertrand Mahe de Labourdonnais took office as Governor of the Isle de France on 8 October 1746 during a time of Anglo French rivalry for colonial possessions in the Indian Ocean His main goals was to take measures to fortify the island against an enemy attack In a letter dated 28 March 1748 addressed to the management of the Compagnie des Indes he expressed his fears and anxiety to find a place in the interior of the island where access would be difficult and where a fortress could be built This would protect women and valuables The Governor went into action before even receiving a reply from the authorities as he considered it necessary for the fortress to be completed quickly David settled on an ideal site a spur in the Moka Range triangular in shape between steep gorges of the rivers Profonde and Cascade However in July 1748 Edward Boscawen an English vice admiral commanding an English fleet approached Mauritius with intentions to take possession of it He retreated because of French cannons situated at Petite Riviere The French Company finally authorised David s project aware of the attack Under the direction of David his Le Reduit a small fortress with battlements and a drawbridge was completed in 1749 In 1754 one of the directors of the Compagnie des Indes Mr Godeheu d Igoville had doubted that Le Reduit would be able to withstand sustained attacks although he admired David s work Under the administration of his successor Jean Baptiste Charles de Lozier Bouvet botanist Jean Baptiste Christophe Fusee Aublet created the French garden of Le Reduit and later introduced many rare plants from America Asia and Europe Pepper plants and cinnamon trees were added by Antoine Marie Desforges Boucher last governor of the Compagnie des Indes The Island became the property of France in 1764 and Le Reduit became the official residence of the governors the first of whom was Jean Daniel Dumas Despite many modifications made during the period 1764 1778 the Chateau was in ruins in 1778 due to white ants Antoine de Guiran La Brillane then governor started reconstruction which was completed that year A year later on 28 April 1779 La Brillane died in Le Reduit An inscription dated 1778 on the main door commemorates the reconstruction Successive governors followed La Brillane until 1810 when the English took possession of the island The last French governor was Charles Mathieu Isidore Decaen The First English Governor was Sir Robert Townsend Farquhar Under the rule of Sir Robert two botanists Boyer and Helsenberg explored Madagascar and the African coasts in search of rare plants for the gardens British rule Edit Under the British rule many modifications were brought to the Chateau It needed extensive repairs after damage caused to it by cyclones in 1868 and 1892 The Chateau was saved from complete destruction during the cyclone in 1892 by the efforts of Governor Sir Henry Jerningham and his assistants Sir Hesketh Bell was known to have taken an interest in the gardens of Le Reduit He created an islet in the middle of the lake linked by a bridge He also installed a fountain on the north side of the Chateau He also introduced many plants from Kew Gardens London and other plants from Ceylon In 1921 he constructed a memorial named Le Temple de l Amour in Pierre Felix Barthelemy David s memory This is situated near the ornamental lake at the end of the garden called Bout du Monde from where one can see below the confluence of the rivers Profonde and Cascade There is a marble inscription on the floor of the memorial which reads TO M BARTHELEMY DAVID Gouverneur de l Isle de France 1746 the creator of Le Reduit his Grateful Successors Independence Edit On 12 March 1968 Mauritius achieved independence and Sir John Shaw Rennie became the first Governor General In September 1968 Sir Arthur Leonard Williams succeeded Sir John Sir Arthur died on 27 December 1972 and was buried in the cemetery of St John situated in the proximity of the Chateau In 1972 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed Sir Raman Osman as the first Mauritian Governor General Sir Raman retired on 31 October 1977 Since this date the office of Governor General was held in an acting capacity by Sir Henry Garrioch Sir Dayendranath Burrenchobay Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo in January 1986 List of occupants EditSir Veerasamy Ringadoo acting 12 March 30 June 1992 Cassam Uteem 30 June 1992 15 February 2002 Angidi Chettiar 15 February 2002 18 February 2002 acting Ariranga Pillay 18 February 2002 25 February 2002 acting Karl Offmann 25 February 2002 1 October 2003 Sir Anerood Jugnauth 7 October 2003 March 2012 Kailash Purryag 21 July 2012 29 May 2015 Dr Ameenah Gurib 5 June 2015 23 March 2018 Prithvirajsing Roopun 2 December 2019 PresentSee also EditList of governors of Isle de France Mauritius 1735 1810 List of governors of British Mauritius 1810 1968References Edit Le Reduit Mauritius Delight External links EditPhotos from Panoramio com Coordinates 20 13 44 S 57 29 13 E 20 229 S 57 487 E 20 229 57 487 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title State House Mauritius amp oldid 1096763891, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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