Champ de Mars

The Champ de Mars was laid out as a racecourse in 1812 by the Mauritius Turf Club, established two years after the British took the island, and it has run meetings ever since, which makes it one of the oldest racecourses still in use in the southern hemisphere. The track sits in a natural bowl surrounded by the hills of Port Louis with the Citadel above it, and on race days from around March to November it fills with a crowd that cuts across the island's communities, betting, eating and watching from the terraces. Outside the season it is an open public space used for walking and events, and the site also carries a monument marking the 1835 abolition of slavery and the declaration of independence in 1968.

What you actually see

• The track in its bowl - the course ringed by Port Louis hills.
• Race day crowds - the terraces, bookmakers and betting stands.
• The Citadel above - Fort Adelaide looking down on the course.
• The monuments - the memorials at the course edge.

When to go

The season runs roughly March to November with meetings on Saturdays; the Maiden Cup in late summer is the biggest day. Outside race days the ground is open but empty. Arrive early on major race days for space.

Honest expectations

Race days are extremely crowded, hot and loud, with heavy betting and drinking. Facilities in the public enclosure are basic. Outside the season there is nothing to see but an open field. Pickpocketing is a known problem in the crowds.

Nearby

Fort Adelaide stands above; the Place d'Armes lies west.