Eureka House
A sumptuous 1830s Creole mansion with 109 doors and windows, set at the foot of Ory mountain facing Pieter Both. Period furniture, verandas, tropical garden and the Moka river waterfalls.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Take the path behind the house down to the waterfalls (1h-1h30 return) and book the Creole lunch on the veranda.
360° view
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A grand Creole house you can walk through
Built in the 1830s (sources disagree on the exact year), Eureka is one of the best-preserved colonial houses in Mauritius. The Le Clézio family bought it around 1856, and it has been open to the public as a house museum since 1986.
Its hallmark is 109 doors and windows, designed to keep air moving long before air conditioning. Beneath the wide wooden veranda, rooms are filled with period furniture and everyday objects that bring 19th-century plantation society to life.
The garden and the Moka river waterfalls
Behind the house, a tropical garden drops down to the Moka river, where a series of waterfalls and pools fills the valley. The path is rocky and slippery, so proper shoes are a must, and it is not suitable for pushchairs.
Allow plenty of time: depending on your pace and how many falls you want to reach, the round trip can take an hour or more. The waterfalls are only accessible during the estate's opening hours.
Opening hours, price and lunch
The estate opens Monday to Saturday from 9am and is closed on Sundays (checked October 2026). Closing time is given as 4:30pm or 5pm depending on the source, so arrive in the morning to be safe.
There is an entrance fee covering the house, garden and waterfalls, but no price is published on any official source: call +230 433 8477 to confirm. The restaurant serves Mauritian food on the veranda, and booking is recommended.
Getting there
Eureka is in Moka, in the centre of the island, around 20 minutes' drive from Port Louis outside rush hour and roughly 45 minutes from Grand Baie or Flic en Flac.
Without a car, take a taxi from Port Louis or from a Metro Express station, as the house is not on the line.
Tips and what to combine it with
Arrive late morning to tour the house and stay for lunch, then head down to the waterfalls in the early afternoon. Insect repellent is useful in the humid valley.
Eureka pairs perfectly with the nearby Le Pouce hike in the morning. Pieter Both's silhouette, visible from the grounds, may tempt you higher still, and Port Louis with its Central Market is only 20 minutes away.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance fee at Eureka House?
There is a fee for the house, garden and waterfalls, but it is not published on any official source and reported amounts vary. Call +230 433 8477 for the current price.
Is Eureka House open on Sundays?
No, the estate opens Monday to Saturday from 9am and is closed on Sundays.
How long should I spend at Eureka House?
Allow 2 to 3 hours for the house, garden and waterfalls, more if you stay for lunch.
Can you swim at the Eureka waterfalls?
The pools are tempting on hot days, but the rocks are slippery and the river rises quickly after rain. Ask on site and take care.
