Castries

Castries is the capital and largest city of Saint Lucia.

It is located on an island country in the Caribbean. The city sits on a flood plain. Much of the urban area is built on reclaimed land. This means the land was created from the sea. The city is organized in a grid pattern.

The urban area has about 20,000 people. The larger Castries district has nearly 70,000 residents. It serves as a major hub for government and business. Many local and foreign companies have their head offices here.

The city is defined by its sheltered harbour. This port is a busy place for many types of watercraft. It receives large cargo vessels and ferries. Cruise ships also dock at the harbour. One specific area for these ships is Pointe Seraphine.

This location is to the north of the harbour. Visitors often use the duty-free shopping facilities nearby. These include La Place Carenage. The harbour makes the city a vital part of the island's economy.

The history of Castries began in 1650. A group of 40 Frenchmen founded a fort there. They were led by a man named de Rousselan. At that time, Saint Lucia was purchased by Captain du Parquet and Monsieur Houel. The French West India Company was involved in the purchase. The original name for the settlement was Carénage. This is a French term meaning "safe anchorage." This name referred to the deep water port. In 1769, Governor Baron de Micoud moved the capital. He moved it to the south side of the harbour. In 1785, the village was renamed Castries. This honored Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix. He was the Marquis de Castries. He served as the French Minister of the Navy and Colonies.

Castries has faced several difficult challenges over the centuries. The city had to be rebuilt after major fires. These fires occurred on October 15, 1805, and April 6, 1813. The most notable fire happened on June 19, 1948. The city also saw action during World War II. On March 9, 1942, a German U-boat named U-161 entered the harbour. It sank two allied ships during the night. One of these was the Canadian ocean liner, RMS Lady Nelson. The ship was later refloated in the harbour. It was eventually taken to Canada to be a hospital ship.

The climate in Castries is a tropical rainforest climate. This is known as the Af type in the Köppen climate classification. This means the weather is generally warm and wet.

The city is a center for regional politics and law. It hosts the secretariat of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. It is also the headquarters for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Many international embassies are located in the city. These include the British High Commission and the French Embassy. Other locations include the Mexican Embassy and the Brazilian Embassy. The mayor of the city is Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel.

Travelers can reach Castries through several different methods. The George F. L. Charles Airport serves the city directly. For longer flights, people use Hewanorra International Airport. That airport is near Vieux-Fort. The drive between the two airports takes about 90 minutes. Travelers can also use a helicopter to save time. Ferries run between Castries and Fort-de-France in Martinique.

For local travel, private buses run to all districts. These buses have green license plates. Their numbers start with the letter M. Yachts may also dock in the area. They must clear customs first. If the customs area is full, they must use the quarantine dock.

There are many landmarks for people to visit in the city. Notable sites include the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. You can also visit the City Library and the Government House. The Castries Market is a popular destination. For a view, people can go to Fort Charlotte. This fort sits at the top of a hill called Morne Fortune.

The city is also famous for its Nobel Prize winners. Arthur Lewis won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 1979. Derek Walcott won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992. Derek Walcott Square is named to honor his work.