Fort Adelaide

Fort Adelaide, known locally as the Citadel, crowns a hill overlooking Port Louis and the Indian Ocean beyond. Built by the British in the 1830s from dark basalt, its squat crenellated ramparts were intended to guard the harbour and overawe the town after emancipation. The fort saw little combat and now serves as a viewpoint and occasional venue for concerts and cultural events. From its walls, visitors survey the whole capital, the racecourse below and the ships lining the waterfront, one of the city's best vantage points.