Out on the west coast and named after a French marquis, the capital (pop. 38,000) is a bustling harbor town, commercial center, and cruise-ship port of call. It’s lively rather than polished, with busy streets, markets, and ferries coming and going. Castries´ hub is Derek Wolcott Square (renamed in 1993 after the late Nobel prize-winning author who´s still the world´s most famous Lucian); here among other things you´ll find the Caribbean´s largest church, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, built in 1897. Also pay a visit to the 135-year-old Castries Market for spices and crafts and 852-foot Morne Fortune hill just south of town for sweeping harbor views and colonial era buildings, fortifications, and cemeteries (including Walcott´s grave).
Read more in my post The Allures of St. Lucia, and 6 Key Places and Experiences.
Comments