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Castries
Castries is a port town in St Lucia predominantly built to cater to the hundreds of visiting cruise ships, which visit the small island brimming with day-trippers eager to explore the duty free shopping malls and busy markets. Visitors who linger find the town has a certain charm surrounded by hills, although little to offer in the way of sightseeing or architectural heritage. Most of the buildings are fairly new, Castries having been destroyed several times by fire during its history, most recently in 1948. There is a very vibrant and colourful market on the go every day except Sunday, some good waterfront restaurants and a few remains of the defences of the island's various occupiers, to claim the attention. Castries also serves as a good base for island exploration, whether it is by road or water.
Derek Walcott Square
The Derek Walcott Square lies at the heart of Castries, named after the famous Nobel Prize winning resident who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1992. The town's only architectural points of interest are to be found on the square, particularly the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, its interior ablaze with golden light, flowers and candles. Shading the Cathedral is a huge samaan tree, thought to be about 400 years old. South of the square are some French buildings dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries, made of wood and featuring old fretwork balconies. Near the square is the feverish Castries central market where vendors sell Indian spices, local crafts, fruit (particularly delicious varieties of bananas) and souvenirs. Colourful countrywomen are dressed in their traditional clothing and cotton headdresses.
Morne Fortune
The hill of Morne Fortune, or Hill of Good Luck is situated on the southern outskirts of Castries and has seen some violent battles between British and French colonists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries for control of St Lucia. The view from the lookout on the hilltop is magnificent. The hill is also the site of Government House, the palatial Victorian edifice that is the official residence of the governor general of the island, with its lovely private gardens. Visitors can explore the military cemetery, an old battery and powder museum, and a small museum exhibiting relics from the island's colonial days.
Marquis Estate
The economy in St Lucia depends greatly on the export and cultivation of crops, including copra and bananas and many of the estates and plantations are open for visitors to explore. The largest, the Marquis Estate, is located just outside Castries and offers tours of the working plantation to illustrate how the crops are grown and processed. The tour includes a scenic drive along St Lucia's northeast coast into the countryside, a visit to an old sugar mill and a boat ride on the Marquis River. After tourism, banana production is Saint Lucia's major industry but it is currently facing severe difficulties due to US protectionism.
Telephone: 452 3762
Marigot Bay
One of the most beautiful bays in the Caribbean is Marigot Bay, situated eight miles south of Castries the bay is an idyllic spot to explore on a St Lucia holiday. It was used in the movie Dr Doolittle, and has long been a favourite stopping point for recreational yachting and boating. The beach is lined with palm trees and remains largely unspoilt and natural.
Folk Research Centre
An old manor house originally owned by the Deveaux family is now home to St Lucia's Folk Research Centre, which is situated at the village of Mourne Pleasant and east of Castries. The centre includes a small but comprehensive museum. Among the exhibits, dedicated to preserving the language and culture of St Lucian Creole, is a reproduction of a traditional ti-kay hut and indigenous musical instruments. The centre also contains a research library with a collection of books, papers and photographs detailing St Lucia' folklore and history.
Telephone: (758) 453 1477; Opening time: The centre is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm
Pigeon Island
Pigeon Island is home to St Lucia's first national park and is located just north of Castries, across a causeway from the mainland. The islet has a romantic past, having been the hideout of Jambe de Bois, the much-feared peg-leg pirate who preyed on Spanish galleons. It was also from here that Admiral Rodney set sail in 1782 to destroy the French fleet in one of the most decisive sea battles in European history. Pigeon island features two white sandy beaches and an interpretation centre, where a multimedia display explains the local history. The centre includes the Captain's Cellar Olde English Pub, a re-creation of an 18th century English pub. The island is ideal for nature walks and has numerous marked trails which bypass historical sites, like the remains of an 18th century British fort.
Telephone: The St Lucia National Trust: 452 5005; Opening time: The Interpretive Centre is open daily from 9am to 5pm
Soufriere
The eighteenth century French capital of the island is called Soufriere and is the oldest settlement on St Lucia. The deep-water port stands at the base of St Lucia's main landmarks, the two towering extinct volcanoes known as the Pitons, rising to 2,619 feet (798m) above sea level. The town itself is pretty, with a cluster of colourfully painted arcaded buildings against a background of dense jungle. Most visitors, however, are drawn by the nearby attraction of the 'drive-in' volcano, Mount Soufriere, where it is possible to enter by car into an ancient volcanic crater filled with sulphur springs and steam geysers. Also at Soufriere are the Diamond Mineral Baths, the Diamond Waterfall and the Diamond Botanical Gardens.
Opening time: The crater is open from 9am to 5pm daily
Vieux Fort
Situated on the southern tip of St Lucia is Vieux Fort, the second largest town after Castries, which is close to the busy Hewanorra International Airport. At St Lucia's most southerly point just outside the town is the Cape Moule, a Chique Lighthouse that offers one of the best panoramic views of the island. The town has a beach called Anse de Sables which is popular for windsurfers. Near the beach is the Maria Islands Interpretive Centre, which contains a small natural history museum, open 9am to 4.30pm on weekdays, and an office where visitors can book trips to the Maria Islands about half a mile offshore.
