Souillac was named after François Vicomte de Souillac, governor of the island of France from 1779 to 1787. The village, twinned with the French village of the same name, is a true vestige of Mauritian history.
Several buildings of this village have crossed generations. Notably the post office, the old railway station, the magistracy, the police station, which is classified as national heritage. The Nef Museum is a landmark building. It was once the home of poet Robert Edward Hart, who was born in Souillac and spent his last 13 years there until his death in 1954. He is now buried in the marine cemetery.
Souillac is also home to the Telfair Garden. It was named after the Irish naturalist Charles Telfair, who died in Mauritius on July 14, 1883. This garden overlooks the cliffs and is home to trees that are several decades old and of impressive size. It is the ideal place to rest facing the sea. The landscape is that of the best postcards.
But the village is best known for the cliffs of La Roche qui Pleure and Gris-Gris. The lagoon in this area is not surrounded by coral reefs and the waves come crashing at full speed on the cliffs, which offers a magnificent view.
The area is called La Roche qui Pleure (i.e, the Crying Rock) because the waves crashing on the cliffs would have one think that the rocks are crying. According to the myth, the rock was once a young woman. Waiting from the top of the cliff for her lover who was swept away by the waves, she ended up being frozen forever...
The Rochester Falls is another highlight of the village. You have to take an off-road path through the cane fields to get there. They are one of the most famous waterfalls of the island and are a perfect spot for a quick dip and a picnic.
