Domaine des Aubineaux is an 1872 colonial residence located in Forest Side, near Curepipe, in the central highlands of Mauritius. The first stop on the Tea Route circuit, the Guimbeau family property operates as a house-museum, complete with botanical gardens and a dining area installed in the former winter garden.

Why visit Domaine des Aubineaux

The house retains its original furnishings, English colonial architecture blended with French elements, and grounds planted with rare trees. Three perspectives converge here:

• Built heritage: a 746 m² residence constructed from reclaimed ship timber, classified as national heritage and listed with Vieilles Maisons Françaises (VMF).
• Family memory: the Rochecouste-Guimbeau lineage, whose objects, photographs and furniture tell a century and a half of Mauritian history.
• Botanical garden: a forest park where each tree species has a story, from mosquito-repelling camphor trees to the multi-century-old endemic Colophane.

History of the estate

The residence was built in 1872 on the site of a former hotel devastated by a cyclone. Initially named "Belle Maison", it underwent several transformations. In 1884, Louis de Rochecouste acquired it and renamed it "Maison Rochecouste". A few years later, he sold part of the land to Gustave Guimbeau, heir to Jean-Baptiste Guimbeau, a shipowner from the Vendée who had made his fortune in Mauritian sugar. Gustave Guimbeau, then owner of Domaine de Saint Aubin, had a nearby residence built called "Maison Saint-Cloud".

In 1899, Maxime Guimbeau, Gustave's son-in-law, married Valentine de Rochecouste, Louis's only daughter. The couple settled in the family home. Maxime inherited Maison Rochecouste in 1906, then Maison Saint-Cloud upon his father's death. He merged the two properties under the name Domaine des Aubineaux.

The house remained inhabited until 1999, when its last resident, Myriam Guimbeau, passed away. Her family then undertook restoration work and opened the property to the public to ensure its upkeep. The estate is classified as national heritage but receives no state funding: its maintenance depends entirely on visitors. It was incorporated into the Tea Route tourist circuit in 2003, alongside the domains of Saint-Aubin and Bois Chéri.

Mauritius's first electrified home

In 1889, Maison Rochecouste became the first Mauritian residence connected to the electrical grid, thanks to its proximity to Curepipe, the island's first electrified city. The Curepipe Philharmonic Society regularly held concerts there, with Philippe Guimbeau being a philanthropist passionate about the arts.

What to see on site

Architecture and interiors

The building reflects English colonial architecture, recognizable by its front veranda (varangue)—where French colonial homes would have extended it all around. The original French owners added two towers with French inspiration. The rest is original: recycled timber from ships abandoned in Port-Louis, mahogany furniture, cement tiles with exclusive patterns. At the entrance, two bronze dog statues recall the family's passion for hunting.

Inside, several remarkable rooms:

• The dining room with its solid oak table that can seat around thirty guests.
• The bedrooms, furnished with pieces from the East India Company and a Baudelaire book resting on a bedside table.
• An Italian neo-Renaissance fresco by an unknown artist, discovered beneath wallpaper during renovations.
• Historic photographs documenting the lives of successive owners.

The botanical park

A path winds through the forest park and its pond. Each tree species has a documented function or origin:

• Camphor trees, planted to repel mosquitoes during the 1867 malaria epidemic.
• Green palm trees, imported from Madagascar.
• Bottle Brush trees, brought from New Caledonia.
• Chalta trees, whose fruit is locally used to prepare pickles.
• An endemic Colophane, estimated by local tradition to be over 500 years old.

The estate's dining area

Food service is located in the winter garden, a glass veranda that the Guimbeau family used as a reception room. The menu features warm dishes (coconut chicken curry, focaccia, smoked marlin panini) and salads. Bois Chéri teas—iced or flavored—are served with sweet treats: apple crisps, caramelized banana.

Practical information

• Visit duration: allow approximately 1 hour for the house and park, 2 hours including a meal or tea.
• Fees: paid entry with reduced rates for children. A Tea Route combination ticket grants access to Domaine des Aubineaux, Domaine de Saint Aubin, and Domaine de Bois Chéri.
• Hours: open daily during daytime hours. Exact times vary seasonally; best to verify before visiting.
• Guided tour: house tours are typically accompanied by English-speaking guides.

When to visit

Forest Side sits in the central highlands, where the climate is noticeably cooler and more humid than the coast. The region receives regular showers, even during the dry season. The most pleasant visiting period runs from May to November, the Southern Hemisphere winter, with mild temperatures and less rainfall. From December to April, bring a windbreaker: fog and squalls are common in Curepipe and surroundings. Morning typically offers the best light for exploring the park.

How to get there

The estate is located in Forest Side, just minutes by car from Curepipe and about an hour from Port-Louis or Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport. Three options:

• Rental car: the most flexible option, with parking on-site.
• Bus: Forest Side is served daily from Port-Louis and Curepipe; a short local journey then leads to the estate.
• Organized tour: most Tea Route circuits include transport and all three estates within a single day.

Nearby attractions

The central and southern region lends itself well to a one- or two-day itinerary:

• Domaine de Saint Aubin: the natural next stop on the Tea Route, centered on sugar and rum.
• L'Aventure du Sucre: museum housed in a former sugar mill, a pertinent historical complement.
• Terre des sept couleurs: geological curiosity in the southwest, ideal to combine with the estates for a full day.
• Mahébourg National History Museum: to deepen your understanding of the island's past.

Frequently asked questions

Extend the experience

Domaine des Aubineaux fits into a broader itinerary encompassing sugar heritage, volcanic landscapes, and tea plantations. To craft a coherent stay around these stops, explore our Mauritius travel ideas.