The 1847 stamps
Blue Penny and Red Penny.
Martin Falbisoner — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sputniktilt — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Benoît Prieur — CC0 · Benoît Prieur — CC0 · Sualkdd — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Blue Penny Museum is a museum of Mauritian history and art at the Caudan Waterfront in the capital, Port Louis, opened in November 2001. It takes its name from its most famous items, the 1847 Blue Penny and Red Penny stamps, among the most valuable and best known stamps for collectors worldwide. A consortium of Mauritian companies led by the Mauritius Commercial Bank bought the stamps in 1993 for $2 million and brought them back to the island after almost 150 years. The bank founded the museum to show this heritage. It also holds the original statue of Paul and Virginia, carved by Prosper d'Épinay in 1881, the pair being heroes of a famous French story set on the island. The galleries show old maps, ships and documents on the history of navigation and colonisation, along with coins, stamps and artworks. To protect the original stamps they are lit only briefly, and most of the time you see copies, so do not be surprised. The building stands out for its timber balcony and yellow facade, at the Caudan Waterfront. It is 600 m in a straight line from Port Louis Central Market, so both fit one walk around the city. It suits a hot midday or rainy weather. Most sources agree it closes on Sundays and public holidays and opens from 10 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 4.30 pm. Ask on arrival when the original stamps are lit, if that matters to you.
Blue Penny and Red Penny.
The original statue of 1881.
The island's seafaring past.
Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis
Caudan WaterfrontA shopping and leisure complex on the Port Louis quayside, opened in the 1990s o1 minute walk4.4
Port Louis Central MarketThe capital's main market since the mid-nineteenth century, under Victorian-styl7 minutes walk4.2
Aapravasi GhatThe site of the old immigration depot on Port Louis harbour, through which about8 minutes walk4.3
Jummah MosqueThe most famous and most beautiful mosque in Mauritius, standing in the heart of10 minutes walk4.8
Fort Adelaide (La Citadelle)A stone fort on a hill above central Port Louis, built by the British between 1817 minutes walk4.3They are lit only briefly for protection, and copies are shown most of the time.
On Sundays and public holidays, according to most sources.