Discover Black River :
Martello Tower of Black River
The British built five Martello towers between 1832 and 1835 at Grand River North West, Black River and Port Louis, three of which survive. A tower, named Cunningham Tower in honor of Lieutenant-Colonel Cunningham, the Commander of the Royal Engineers, was built as part of Fort George on the north side of the Port Louis harbor entrance. Two towers were built at Grand River North West; on the southwest side of the bay of the river, the tower was built at Pointe aux Sables while Fort Victoria was built on the northeast flank. The other two were built to support the existing batteries, which were also improved, at the mouth of the Black River; one to the north at La Preneuse and the other to the south of Grande-Rivière-Noire at the Batterie de l’Harmonie. Cunningham Tower disappeared after 1914. The tower at Fort Victoria was last mentioned in 1880. In 1865, the Mauritius Almanac and Civil Service Register was listed for the towers at Fort George and Grand River. The Friends of the Environment have restored a Martello tower near the public beach of La Preneuse, in the Rivière Noire district. The Friends operate it as a museum for visitors. The original entrance to the tower is elevated but a new entrance has been constructed at ground level. The other tower in the Rivière Noire/Black River district [L’Harmonie] still exists but has remained abandoned for many years. The other existing tower is at Pointe aux Sables, Grand River North West.
La Preneuse beach
La Preneuse beach is located in Rivière Noire on the west coast of Mauritius. Known for the Martello tower which is located next to the parking area and the old cannons lay along the white sand beach as if to travel back in time to the era of piracy and the invasions of enemy ships. The cannons on the beach are remnants of the war that pitted French ships against the English in the 18th century.
The cannons are the main attraction of the beach, popular among the little ones, the beach of the taker is far from the hustle and bustle and mass tourism. A famous white sand beach surrounded by clear blue water and a coral reef with a breathtaking view of Le Morne Brabant.