This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(June 2010) |
Castries(/kəˈstriːz/) is thecapitaland largest city ofSaint Lucia,an island country in theCaribbean.The urban area has a population of approximately 20,000, while the eponymousdistricthas a population of just under 70,000, as at May 2013. The city covers 80 km2(31 sq mi).[4][5][6]
Castries | |
|---|---|
     Top: View of Castries; Middle:Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception,Castries Harbour; Downtown Castries, Saint Lucia Government House | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Motto: Statio Haud Malefida Carinis( "A Safe Harbour for Ships" )[1] | |
 The District of Castries, showing Castries city (red dot) | |
| Coordinates:14°01′N60°59′W/ 14.017°N 60.983°W | |
| Country |  Saint Lucia |
| District | Castries District |
| Founded | 1650 as "Carenage" |
| Renamed | 1756 as "Castries" |
| Founded by | the French |
| Named for | Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries |
| Government | |
| • Governing body | Castries City Council |
| •Mayor | Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel |
| Area | |
• Total | 79 km2(30.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2 m (6.56 ft) |
| Population (2013) | |
• Total | 20,000 |
| • Density | 250/km2(660/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-4(Eastern Caribbean Time Zone (ECT)) |
| Area code | 758 |
| Website | www |
Castries is on a flood plain and is built onreclaimed land.It houses the seat of government and the head offices of many foreign and local businesses. The city is laid out in a grid pattern. Its sheltered harbour receives cargo vessels, ferries and cruise ships. It housesduty-freeshopping facilities such as Point Seraphine and La Place Carenage.
Castries is the birthplace ofArthur Lewis,winner of the 1979 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, as well as ofDerek Walcott,winner of the 1992 Nobel Prize for Literature.
History
editIn 1650, the fortauprès du Petit Cul-de-Sac et de la rivière du Carénagewas founded by a group of 40 Frenchmen led by de Rousselan, whenSt. Luciawas purchased by Capt. du Parquet and Monsieur Houel from theFrench West India Company.The capital was moved to the south side of the harbor in 1769 by Gov. Baron de Micoud. In 1785, the village of Carénage was renamed Castries, afterCharles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries,theFrench Minister of the Navy and Colonies.[7]
In 1835, the British built the western wharf in 1642 to facilitate the coal trade and the first steamship arrived in 1841, theRMSSolway.[7]: 163, 243–244
During World War II on 9 March 1942, the GermanU-161sailed into Castries harbor at night and sank two allied ships,[7]: 275 [8]including the Canadianocean linerRMSLady Nelson,which was subsequently refloated in the harbour and taken to Canada to be converted to ahospital ship.
Castries has been rebuilt many times, following major fires on 15 October 1805, 6 April 1813, and most notably on 19 June 1948.[7]: 124–125, 289
Climate
edit| Climate data forGeorge F. L. Charles Airport(1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.0 (84.2) |
29.1 (84.4) |
29.7 (85.5) |
30.5 (86.9) |
31.1 (88.0) |
30.8 (87.4) |
30.9 (87.6) |
31.2 (88.2) |
31.5 (88.7) |
31.2 (88.2) |
30.4 (86.7) |
29.6 (85.3) |
30.4 (86.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.1 (79.0) |
26.1 (79.0) |
26.5 (79.7) |
27.3 (81.1) |
28.1 (82.6) |
28.1 (82.6) |
28.0 (82.4) |
28.1 (82.6) |
28.2 (82.8) |
27.9 (82.2) |
27.4 (81.3) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.4 (81.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23.1 (73.6) |
23.0 (73.4) |
23.3 (73.9) |
24.2 (75.6) |
25.1 (77.2) |
25.3 (77.5) |
25.2 (77.4) |
25.0 (77.0) |
24.8 (76.6) |
24.5 (76.1) |
24.3 (75.7) |
23.7 (74.7) |
24.3 (75.7) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 105.0 (4.13) |
72.3 (2.85) |
66.1 (2.60) |
86.2 (3.39) |
105.1 (4.14) |
156.6 (6.17) |
199.0 (7.83) |
217.6 (8.57) |
206.1 (8.11) |
250.9 (9.88) |
233.8 (9.20) |
130.0 (5.12) |
1,828.7 (72.00) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) | 17.3 | 12.4 | 11.7 | 11.1 | 11.6 | 16.4 | 20.4 | 18.9 | 16.2 | 18.3 | 18.9 | 16.1 | 189.3 |
| Source:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration[9] | |||||||||||||
Tourism
edit
One of the major tourist areas in St. Lucia, Castries is a port of call forcruise ships.They dock at Pointe Seraphine, to the north of the harbour.[10]
Landmarks include theCathedral of the Immaculate Conception,Derek Walcott Square(renamed from Columbus Square to honour the island's Nobel Prize-winning poet,Derek Walcott), the City Library, the Government House,Castries Market,and Fort Charlotte, at the top of Morne Fortune (an 845-foot or 258 m hill). Beaches includeVigie Beach,Malabar Beach, Choc Beach, and La Toc Beach.
Transport
editCastries is served byGeorge F. L. Charles Airport.[11]Passengers on longer flights arrive atHewanorra International Airport,nearVieux-Fort.The drive between Hewanorra and Castries can take an hour and a half. Helicopter service between the airports shortens travel time.
Ferries run between Castries andFort-de-France,Martinique.Yachts may 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 that do not are fined. Afterward, yachts may anchor in front of Castries Town or Vigie Creek.
Standard bus routes run from Castries to all outlying districts on the island. The buses are private (not subsidized by government) bearing green license plates with numbers that start with anM—for example,M456.
Political institutions
editAs well as being the capital city of Saint Lucia, Castries hosts the secretariat of theOrganisation of Eastern Caribbean States.[12]Castries also hosts the headquarters of theEastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
The mayor of Castries is Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel, who took office in September 2021.[13]
A number of international embassies and consulates keep their headquarters in Castries. They include theOrganization of American States,British High Commission,Mexican Embassy, embassy of theRepublic of China(Taiwan) (inRodney Bay), Dominican Republic Consulate, French Embassy, Italian Vice Consulate, Jamaican Consulate, Netherlands Consulate, Norwegian Consulate, Brazilian Embassy and Venezuelan Embassy.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Castries City Council - St Lucia".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-28.Retrieved2009-07-29.
- ^"Weather in Castries. Current weather | lc.freemeteo".Freemeteo.Retrieved2016-08-10.
- ^"St Lucia Travel Guide and Travel Information".Worldtravelguide.net.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-06-08.Retrieved2016-08-10.
- ^"Castries".GeoNames.RetrievedAugust 12,2021.
- ^"Map of Castries"(PDF).The Central Statistical Office of Saint Lucia.Archived fromthe originalon August 13, 2021.RetrievedAugust 17,2021.
- ^Law, Gwillim (2015)."Districts of Saint Lucia".Statoids.RetrievedAugust 10,2021.
- ^abcdHarmsen, Jolien; Ellis, Guy; Devaux, Robert (2014).A History of St Lucia.Vieux Fort: Lighthouse Road. p. 23,43–44,52,163.ISBN9789769534001.
- ^Hubbard, Vincent (2002).A History of St. Kitts.Macmillan Caribbean. p.117.ISBN9780333747605.
- ^"George F L Charles Climate Normals for 1991-2020"(CSV).National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Retrieved20 August2024.
- ^"The Top 10 Things to Do in Castries, St. Lucia".Travel Tips - USA Today.Archived fromthe originalon 2023-01-04.Retrieved2023-01-04.
- ^"SLASPA - George F.L. Charles Airport".SLASPA.Retrieved4 January2023.
- ^"OECS - Secretariat"(PDF).OECS.November 4, 2013.Archived(PDF)from the original on January 4, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 4,2023.
- ^"New mayor, councillors sworn in"(Press release). Office of the Prime Minister. 2 September 2021.Retrieved4 September2021.
- "Castries, the City that Rose from the Ashes".Saint Lucia Tourism.20 January 2021.RetrievedAugust 17,2021.
External links
edit- Interactive tour of St. Lucia's History and Culture:Official site for St. Lucia Tourist Board
- Worldaware Lesson plan on Castries:site owned by SOS Charity UK
