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Named in honor of Adelaide, the wife of King William IV of England
The fort was originally built with the aim of protecting the port from a possible invasion but also to tame any possible revolt of the local population, following the racial tensions of the time. Completed in 1840, the fort was never used for military or police purposes because tensions had already subsided. The Citadel of Port-Louis nevertheless remains one of the rare witnesses to the transition period between the abolition of slavery and the arrival of indentured workers.
Named in honor of Adelaide, the wife of King William IV of England, whose initials and crown are carved into the stone of the entrance pediment. Unlike Fort William and Fort Victoria (forts built during the British period), the Citadel has not fallen into oblivion and decay; it is the only one still intact.
Built of basalt stones, the fort was designed by Colonel Thomas Cunningham and it testifies to the know-how of the craftsmen of the time. Its construction began in 1834-1835 and it was not an easy task; Mauritius then went through the process of abolishing slavery, finding itself with a significant labor shortage.
