Castries Saint Lucia
Castries St Lucia
On a map, Saint Lucia might seem undistinguishable from neighbouring islands; this is an island of small towns and breath-taking scenery. Nevertheless, St Lucia has its own unique feel. This feel is not just manifested in the nation’s natural wonders, but also in the cities. This is the case of the country’s capital, Castries. No matter if a tourist arrives by plane or boat, there is a big chance the capital will be his gateway into the country; Castries can also be a destination of a holiday package.
City and Landmarks
Castries landmarks do not have as much international fame as those of Havana, the Cuban capital. Nevertheless, they attract interest. St Lucia does not have a long history, but the island’s past is filled with fateful events, and the capital remembers them. One of the sights that remind people of the country’s tense past stands on the hill of Morne Fortune on the town’s outskirts: Fort Charlotte. During the major wars of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the colonial possessions of leading European empires often became theatres of war. St Lucia did not avoid such a fate. The island was claimed and lost by both France and Britain several times throughout those years. The fort’s fate illustrates the battle for the Caribbean. It was built by the French in 1764 and became a battleground in 1796. A monument dedicated to that battle and the graves of the fallen soldiers can be found on the hill. Part of the fort is still intact and now houses education and administration facilities. The preserved parts of Fort Charlotte are not the only treasure of colonial architecture in Castries; others can be found in the heart of the city. There stands the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a Roman Catholic basilica built in the nineteenth century. A spacious structure with a traditional ecclesiastic interior, the cathedral is also the seat of the Archbishop of the local Archdiocese. The cathedral of colonial times is located on Derek Walcott Square, a place serves as a tribute to St Lucia’s modern achievements. The square is named after the famous contemporary author, a recipient of the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature. One contemporary attraction of Castries is particularly noteworthy. Opened in 2011, the Our Planet Centre is an environment-themed museum that puts an emphasis on interactive exhibits. Visitors are invited to walk through the galleries with video projections that lecture tourists about the local and global ecology. A trademark feature of the museum is a hologram of Prince Charles, which addresses environmental issues.
Holiday Activities
A tourist can go sightseeing or visit the museum, but these are not the only ways of spending time in Castries. Going shopping is an option. Moreover, the main shopping districts of the city are located at the entrances into the country; La Place Carenage and the adjoining Jeremie Street are in the port area while Point Seraphine is situated next to George Charles Airport. For an authentic Saint Lucian shopping experience, tourists can visit the central market, a more traditional place of trade. Castries is one of the locations of the St Lucia Jazz Festival, one of the biggest events of this kind in the world. If the trip is planned for May, a tourist might find the city in the middle of the festival. A traveller can of course just relax on a beach. Several of the island’s beach resorts are located just outside the capital of St Lucia: Vigie Beach, Choc Beach, Sandal Halcyon Beach.
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