Castries

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the town in France, see Castries, Hérault.

For the Saint Lucian Quarter of the same name, see Castries Quarter.

The Quarter of Castries, showing Castries city (red dot)

Castries, population 11 147 (1991), is the capital city of Saint Lucia, a country in the West Indies. Castries is located at 14°1′N, 60°59′W.

The main post office is located in Castries. Because most parts of the country don't use standard street addresses, mail is largely sent to P.O. boxes. Any mail sent without a town name ends up in the Castries post office.

1 History
2 Tourism
3 Transport
4 Political institutions
5 Gallery
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] History

Castries was founded by the French in 1650, named after Charles Eugène Gabriel de la Croix, Marquis de Castries. Previously, it was called "Carenage" (meaning safe anchorage).

Castries has been rebuilt, having been destroyed by fire several times, notably on June 19, 1948.

[edit] Tourism

One of the major tourist areas in St. Lucia, Castries is a port of call for cruise ships. The greatest concentration of hotels, resorts, and restaurants are near Castries and the island's other main towns, Gros Islet, Soufrière, and Rodney Bay. The city maintains three tourist offices, including one in the airport.

Castries has a few landmarks such as the 1890s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Derek Walcott Square (named after the island's Nobel Prize-winning poet, Derek Walcott), the Government House, and Fort Charlotte, at the top of Morne Fortune (an 845-foot hill).

One of the major draws for tourists to St. Lucia is its beaches, and there are several in or very near Castries. Malabar Beach, Choc Beach, and La Toc Beach are all within easy reach.

[edit] Transport

Castries is served by George F. L. Charles Airport, also known as Vigie Airport. Passengers on longer flights arrive at Hewanorra International Airport, near Vieux-Fort. However, the drive between Hewanorra and Castries can take an hour and a half. Helicopter service between the two airports shortens travel time. Ferry service between Soufrière and Castries is another way travelers shorten their transportation time from Hewanorra Airport.

In addition to the Castries - Soufrière ferry route, ferries run regularly throughout the day between Castries and Fort-de-France, Martinique. Yachts may also dock in Castries, though they must clear customs first. When the customs area is full, yachts must anchor at the quarantine dock to wait. Those who don't comply are fined. Afterward, yachts may anchor in front of Castries Town or Vigie Creek.

Standard bus routes run between Castries and Gros Islet, as well as Castries and Rodney Bay. To get to other areas of the island, private minivan buses offer transportation from bus stops, or simply by being flagged down on the roadside. These private buses run from Castries to Soufrière and Vieux Fort.

[edit] Political institutions

As well as being the capital city of Saint Lucia, Castries hosts the secretariat of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Castries also hosts the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

A number of international embassies and consulates keep their headquarters in Castries. They include the Organization of American States, British High Commission, Chinese Embassy, Dominican Republic Consulate, French Embassy, Italian Vice Consulate, Jamaican Consulate, Netherlands Consulate, Norwegian Consulate, and Venezuelan Embassy.