Exploring Cimetière de l’Ouest
We all know cemeteries as places of final rest, but we never imagined the extent of history behind each tombstone.
Although the My Moris team particularly enjoys the unusual, I never thought I would one day visit a cemetery as part of my work. So, let's talk about this extraordinary visit...
The Western Cemetery on the side of Salines, in Port Louis, is an undeniable heritage of our island's history.
Established in 1771, the Western Cemetery initially replaced the cimetière de l’Enfoncement, which was located at the site of the current Jardin de la Compagnie in Port Louis.
Over 250 years of history reside in the tombstones of this cemetery, which spans on 14.5 acres of land. Twenty-five of them are classified as Historical Monuments. Tamil artisans who arrived during the French era, French and British administrators, military personnels, missionaries, as well as descendants of slaves are buried side by side.
At the entrance, one can read that this cemetery is the “témoin du fondement de la nation mauricienne’’ which means “witness to the foundation of the Mauritian nation’’.
Known figures from history rest here: Sir Célicourt Antelme, Sir William Newton, Léoville L’homme. They are alongside other perhaps less-known but equally important figures like Thomas Dayot, who initiated and managed the construction of St Louis Cathedral, Auguste Blaize de Maisonneuve, whose father was the nephew of Mahé de Labourdonnais, and Reverend Jean Lebrun, who fought to allow mixed race individuals to be buried in this cemetery.
As we explore further, we notice that some of these tombs are true works of art crafted by artisans of the time. Inscriptions are in French, English, Tamil, and Latin, and tombstones are adorned with emblems, coats of arms, or symbols reflecting the origins of the one who rests there.
We concluded our visit by taking a look at the cemetery's entrance, where the association office, "Sauvegarde du Cimetière de l’Ouest" has done remarkable work by creating an application where all the graves are listed. So, you can easily find those you are looking for.
Contact for the "Sauvegarde du Cimetière de l’Ouest" association: 52564794
Or click here to access their website https://cimetiere.mu/
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