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Cruise ship port © St Lucia Tourist Board

The main reason for the existence of the town of Castries, capital of St Lucia, is as a port of call for hundreds of cruise ships that dock in the deep harbour every year, disgorging thousands of day-trippers who shop till they drop in the market and duty-free shopping malls. 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.

Attractions

Derek Walcott Square

The spacious Derek Walcott Square is the central point of Castries, named for the town’s famed son 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... see full details

Marquis Estate

St Lucia’s economy is based primarily on the cultivation of export crops, particularly bananas and copra. Several estates on the island are open to visitors. The largest, the Marquis Estate, is located just outside Castries and offers tours of the working plantation to illustrate how the... see full details

Morne Fortune

On the outskirts to the south of Castries, accessed via Bridge Street, stands the hill of Morne Fortune, ‘Hill of Good Luck’, where some violent battles were waged between the French and British in the 18th and 19th centuries in their quest to control... see full details

Excursions

Folk Research Centre

In the hills east of Castries at the village of Morne Pleasant is St Lucia's Folk Research Centre, housed in an old manor house that was originally owned by the Deveaux family. The centre includes a small but comprehensive museum. Among the exhibits, dedicated... see full details

Gros Islet

North of Castries lies the small, rather unremarkable fishing village of Gros Islet, a collection of dilapidated wooden homes lining narrow streets and a rather grubby beach. But come Friday night this unprepossessing town is the place to be for everyone on St Lucia,... see full details

Marigot Bay

A perfect spot for a picnic, Marigot Bay, about eight miles (13km) south of Castries is one of the most beautiful bays in the Caribbean. It was used in the movie Dr Doolittle, and has long been a favourite stopping point for recreational... see full details

Pigeon Island

Pigeon Island, north of Castries, is St Lucia's first national park, reached from the mainland across a causeway. The islet has a romantic past, having been the hide-out of Jambe de Bois, the much-feared peg-leg pirate who preyed on Spanish galleons. It was also... see full details

Soufriere

Soufriere in the south is the oldest settlement on the island, having served as the French capital in the 18th century. The deep-water port stands at the base of St Lucia's main landmarks, the two towering extinct volcanoes known as the Pitons, rising... see full details

Vieux Fort

St Lucia's second largest town is on the south coast, adjacent to the island's busy Hewanorra International Airport on the southernmost tip of the island. At St Lucia's most southerly point just outside the town is the Cape Moule, a Chique Lighthouse, which offers... see full details

Events

A turtle on the beach © flickr: djwudi

Turtle watching

Date: Mid-March until the end of July