Built around a natural deep-water port, this low-slung town of about 3,000 residents (above and top) is a mix of red-roofed buildings, yacht-filled marinas, and narrow streets lined with colonial-era buildings, many now housing restaurants, cafés, and high-end boutiques. The atmosphere is relaxed by day and softly glamorous in the evening. Landmarks include the remains of Fort Karl and Fort Gustav, a short hike above town and both with sweeping views over the harbor; the simple, Spanish-style, stone Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, built in 1829; whitewashed Anglican St. Bartholomew´s (1855); the 227-year-old Swedish Clock Tower, the island´s oldest colonial structure, and right next to it, the simple Old Swedish Jail, now home to municipal offices: There are also a couple of worthwhile museums. The Wall House Museum (also known as the Musée Territorial), which traces the island’s colonial past, and the Musée Municipale de St. Barth, housed in an gray stone Swedish colonial building and covering similar ground. Finally, just beyond the town center lies the Anse de Grand Galet (Shell Beach), an unusual shoreline composed of tiny shells rather than sand.
Read more in my post The French-flavored Icon of Low-key Luxury that Is St. Barts, and its Top Highlights.
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