Château of Réduit

The State House
Le Chateau de Réduit
General information
Architectural style	Old Palace Old Mansion
Town or city	State House, Le Réduit
Country	Mauritius
Construction started	July 1748
Technical details
Size	240 acres (0.97 km2)
Design and construction
Architect	Pierre Félix Barthelemy David

The State House or The Château of Réduit is the Official Residence of the President of Mauritius. It is found in Réduit, at the rear of the University of Mauritius and also at the end of Plaine Willhems district. It served as the residence for the former governors of Mauritius, but at present it is the residence of the President of the Republic of Mauritius. It is a big, old mansion built on 240 acres (0.97 km²) with big gardens and dependencies. The château also possesses an immense, pretty garden where grow a multitude of exquisite flowers, as well as exotic and native trees. Yearly access is granted, for just one day, to the gardens of the chateau, where cultural activities are organized. This notable symbol of the Mauritius' colonial past has stood through time: it was destroyed by a cyclone, rebuilt solidly after, and recently renovated.

The building has been occupied by Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Lady Sarojini Jugnauth since 2003. They are due to leave the Old Mansion in 2013.

Origins

Pierre Félix Barthelemy David, successor of Bertrand Mahé de Labourdonnais, took office as Governor of the Isle de France on 8 October 1746 at a time of strong Anglo-French rivalry for colonial possessions.

It was therefore appropriate that his main preoccupation was to take measures to fortify the island against 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 facilitate the protection of women and valuables and also check the progress of the enemy.

The Governor initiated immediate action prior to receiving a reply from the authorities as he considered it necessary for the works to be completed expeditiously. David settled on an ideal site for his fortress - a spur in the Moka Range, triangular in shape between steep gorges of the rivers Profonde and Cascade.

Construction

However in July 1748, an English vice-admiral by the name of Edward Boscawen, commanding an English fleet, approached the island carrying orders to take possession of it. In the event, he retreated in the wake of the French cannons situated at Petite Rivière. Being made aware of this attack, the French Company finally authorised David's project, insisting that strict economy should be observed. Under the personal involvement of David, his "Le Réduit" was completed in 1749. It was a small fortress with battlements and a drawbridge.

It is interesting to note that in 1754, one of the directors of the "Compagnie des Indes", Mr. Godeheu d'Igoville had strong doubts that Le Réduit would be able to withstand sustained attacks, although he admired David's work. This opinion was also shared by many other distinguished personalities, among others, the Governor René Magon de la Ville Bague (1756). On the other hand, equally notable persons agreed with David's concept, among them Governor Malartic (1792) and Sir Charles Colville (1838).

Established

In 1749, Le Réduit was situated in spacious grounds where cotton was planted by David. However, it was under the administration of his successor, Jean Baptiste Charles de Lozier-Bouvet, that botanist Jean-Baptiste Christophe Fusée-Aublet created the French garden which became the pride and glory 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 the action of white ants.

Antoine de Guiran La Brillane, the then governor, commenced reconstruction which was completed the same 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.

Repairs

Under the British, many modifications were brought to the Château which required extensive repairs following damage caused to it by the cyclones of 1868 and 1892. It is worth mentioning that the Château was saved from complete destruction during the cyclone in 1892 by the efforts of Governor Sir Henry Jerningham and his assistants.

Successive French governors followed La Brillane until 1810, when the English took possession of the island. The last French governor was Charles Mathieu Isidore Decaen. Under British rule the name of the island was restored to Mauritius and the First English Governor was Sir Robert Townsend Farquhar. He paid particular attention to the gardens of Le Réduit and recruited a gardener from England to help Jaunet, the horticulturist in charge. Under the auspices of Sir Robert, two distinguished botanists, Boyer and Helsenberg, explored Madagascar and the African coasts in search of rare plants for the gardens.

Sir Hesketh Bell, years later, was also known to have taken keen interest in the gardens of Le Réduit. He created an islet in the middle of the lake, linked to the edge by a rustic bridge. He also installed a fountain on the north side of the Château. Additionally he introduced many varieties of decorative plants from Kew Gardens, London, and other plants from Ceylon.

In 1921, wishing to make a grand gesture to the creator of Le Réduit and linked with his own passions for the gardens, he constructed a memorial named "Le Temple de l'Amour" in 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"

On 12 March 1968 Mauritius achieved independence and Sir John Shaw Rennie, GCMG, OBE, became the first Governor-General.

On 3 September 1968 Sir Arthur Leonard Williams, GCMG, GCVO, 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, GCMG, CBE, as the first Mauritian Governor-General. Sir Raman retired on 31 October 1977.

Later Days

Since this date, the office of Governor-General was held in an acting capacity by His Excellency Sir Henry Garrioch, formerly Chief Justice and subsequently by His Excellency Sir Dayendranath Burrenchobay, KBE, CMG, CVO, Head of the Civil Service in March 1978, by H.E. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, KCMG, GCMG, PC, in December 1983 and by Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, GCMG, QC, in January 1986.

List Of Occupants

• Sir 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 - incumbent