Le Mont-Dore

Mont-Dore (Le Mont-Dore) is a town in the island of Grande Terre, New Caledonia with a population of 27,620. It's also the second largest city in New Caledonia, just after Nouméa.

History
Several sites in the town of Mont-Dore have been populated for a long time. The first settlement areas were located including Boulari and St. Louis from the time of the period Koné back to the beginning of the first millennium BC. Another site, that of Plum, gave his name to a style of pottery (including a full copy was discovered in this locality) developed between the second century BC and the beginning of the second millennium AD.

Population
The town has been continually growing since 1956 when it only had a population of about 1288 to 2019 where it has a population of 27,620.

By car
From Nouméa, take Rte Express du Mont-Dore, and then continue onto RP1. You have now arrived at Mont-Dore, but to go to the southern bits of the city continue until La Coulee turn right onto RP2 until Mont-Dore.

Get around
While the town itself is quite small in population, still 60% of the town is still covered in the bush so taking your car is the best option. Especially going from Mont-Dore to Mont-Dore de Sud (South Mont-Dore).

See
<!-- The Church of the Conception, it was built in 1874 by the Marist Fathers who had founded the mission of the Conception in 1855. It is a very frequented place of pilgrimage, known for the many alleged miracles, as evidenced by the presence of many ex-voto in the church. The Church of Saint Thérèse (Robinson) The Church of the Mission of Saint-Louis, it is located shortly before the tribe of Saint-Louis and built in 1860 and its bell tower in 1878, it was founded by the Marist Fathers. It owes its name to Napoleon III, of whom Louis was the first name. This church has been classified by the Southern Province since 2008. The Vallon-Dore chapel The American chapel of Plum, this chapel was built by the Americans during the Second World War within their military camp. It has been classified by the Southern Province since 2006. Ouara Church, it was built on Ouen Island in 1864, on the site of the tribe of the same name. It is the second church of New Caledonia built in solid after that of Vao on the Isle of Pines. This church has been classified by the Southern Province since 1993. The brickyard, the brickyards have long been an important economic sector of Mont-Dore. Launched around 1870, stopped by the great crisis of the 1930s and then revived in the 1950s, the manufacture of clay brick has marked the history of the town. Several remains of brickyards are still visible today in Vallon-Dore. The brickyard is classified by the Southern Province. The forestière (Pirogues river), the Pirogues bay still contains period buildings that are also called Maison Pérignon or La Forestière buildings, built in an architectural style typical of rural houses from the turn of the century. It has been a part of the South Province heritage since 1999. The ruins of the village of Prony, originally founded in 1867 to supply Nouméa with wood, it was transformed into a penitentiary in 1873. These ruins have been part of the heritage of the Southern Province since 2008. Logging of Port-Boisé (remains) The Fontaine de Plum (real name “the Joseph Bourgeois fountain”) has been built at the pass of the same name. It is an ideal place to cool off with pure and limpid spring water. A bottling plant, the Eaux du Mont-Dore plant, is located a stone's throw from this fountain. The beach of Carcassonne, places of relaxation and leisure equipped with picnic table and also a stand-up paddle activity is offered on this same beach on request. Mont-Dore Cultural Centre Natural sites Aiguille de Prony, a nature reserve located in the bay of Prony, it extends over a diameter of 200 meters around the center of the Aiguille. Possibility of diving with service providers on request. Banc Gail, visited only by divers from the Aquarium des Lagons de Nouméa. The Banc Gail is the largest deposit in the world of fluorescent corals and for fifty years made the reputation of the Aquarium. The Madeleine Falls are located in the heart of the provincial reserve of the same name, in the Plaine des Lacs and near the Parc de la Rivière Bleue. The reserve, covering an area of ​​400 hectares, brings together 168 plant species (from 53 botanical families), 95% of which are endemic to New Caledonia. The islets: Casy, Bailly and Porc-Epic. The Casy islet is located in the heart of Prony Bay, this magnificent islet concentrates all aspects of the south of Grande Terre: tropical forest, mining scrub and white sand beach. Ilot Bailly is located opposite Vallon-Dore, Ilot Bailly is part of the Southern Lagoon Territorial Park. Endowed with beautiful beaches, it is an ideal docking place for picnics. Porc-Epic islet has a lighthouse, the “porcupine lighthouse”, which is one of the six lighthouses in the Mont-Dore territory. This islet shelters a vegetation of column pines. LA THY - Saint-Louis The Provincial Park of the Blue River extends over 22,000 hectares where you can discover Caledonian flora and fauna. It is a privileged place for leisure activities such as hiking, picnicking, swimming and mountain biking. CAP'DUA is the southernmost point of Grande Terre. The panoramic view of the entire southern lagoon allows, between July and September, to see the whales that come to roam the lagoon. She has been registered since 2013. The summit of Mont Dore, from the top of its 810 meters, Mont Dore dominates the lagoon and the city of Nouméa. Its changing colors depending on the time of day or the season, its majestic presence have made it a fundamental element of the landscape of southern Caledonia. Two paths allow you to access it, you have the entrance by Plum or the one by the Route de la Corniche. Former thermal springs of Prony, located at the mouth of the Blue River in the bay of Carénage, and marked by low walls visible in the sea, the thermal springs generate slightly sulphurous water at 43 ° C. They have been part of the heritage of the Southern Province since 2013. Bois du Sud, a 15 ha sustainable management area created in 2009. The Bois du Sud is a protected area under the Environment Code. This area was created to guarantee the protection and conservation of the natural heritage, as well as for recreation and environmental awareness. Indoor activities are available. -->

Scuba diving
Scuba divers may want to go scuba diving in the lagon calédonien, rich in coral life and just after the Great Barrier Reef in size, it's no surprise why it's such a huge tourist spot.

Go next

 * Go to the capital of Nouméa