St.
Lucia has some of the most overwhelmingly
beautiful scenery to be found anywhere
in the world. Amongst the natural beauty
of its splendid forests and soaring peaks
are ancient fortresses, gem-like fishing
villages, and gracious town squares, places
waiting like buried treasure to be discovered
by newcomers.
Castries
St.
Lucia's bustling capital is home to several
of St. Lucia's historical sights, like
the La Toc Battery, and beautiful architecture,
including the uniquely decorated Cathedral
and the Central Library. There is excellent
shopping in the town market and Bagshaws,
where the art of silkscreening can be
observed.
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Morne
Fortune (Hill of Good Luck)
Overlooking
Castries, this was a key battleground during
the period of skirmishes over colonial possession
of St. Lucia. The French began constructing
a fortress at this strategic outpost in the
17th century, but it was the British who finished
it when the French surrendered in 1796.
Marigot
Bay
Another
vital wartime base, where a British Admiral
once ambushed the French by camouflaging his
fleet with palm fronds. This picturesque bay
is now a yacht haven and one of St. Lucia's
most beautiful spots.
Derek
Walcott Square
Located
in the capital, Castries, a 400-year-old samaan
tree shades the Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception, built in 1897.
Anse-le-Ray
& Canaries
An
afternoon visit to these tiny fishing villages
offer an interesting study of one of St. Lucia's
main traditions, fishing in dug-out canoes.
Soufriere
Located
in the south, it is the oldest town in St. Lucia,
established by the French in 1746. Of particular
note is its unusual marketplace, decorated with
colourful murals and gingerbread trim.
Choiseul
Midway
between Soufriere and Vieux Fort on the southwest
coast, this village is rich in history, crafts
and spectacular views. It is home to a petroglyph
carved centuries ago by the island's early inhabitants
and Fort Citreon, where only a single cannon
remains.
Gros
Islet
Like
Cinderella preparing for the Ball, this fishing
village transforms itself every Friday night
into a colorful carnival scene, featuring soca
and reggae music and a "jump up" (dancing
in the streets).
Pigeon
Island
Pigeon
Island, a 40-acre islet connected by a causeway
to St. Lucia's west coast, is a beautiful nature
park which reflects a thousand years of history.
There are marked trails with a number of historical
sites, like the remains of an 18th-century British
fort and Fort Rodney, where the Admiral for
which it is named spied on the French ships
from its strategic viewpoint . The island also
has two secluded beaches and is the major venue
of St. Lucia's annual Jazz Festival.
The
Pigeon Island Museum & Interpretive Centre,
displaying the island's history, is housed in
a landmark former British officers' mess building,
restored to its 1808 elegance. Through interactive
audio/visual aids and ancient artifacts, visitors
learn about the first Carib Indian settlers
and the island's role in the French/British
battles during colonization. A highlight is
Admiral Rodney's victory in 1782 at the famous
"Battle of the Saints." The museum
opens daily 9:00am to 5:00pm. For information,
contact the St. Lucia National Trust (452-5005).
Tours
Errard
Plantation
The
drive to Errard, near the village of Dennery,
crosses the interior of the island and borders
the rain forest. The tour includes an introduction
to the various fruit crops, a "cocoa dance,"
which polishes the beans, and a Creole lunch
featuring local fruit juices. For arrangements,
call 453-1260.
La
Sikwe Historical Sugar Mill & Plantation
Bordering
the village of Anse la Raye, the 400-acre estate
is set in a beautiful botanical garden. The
tour features an onsite museum and cultural
theatre with a 40-foot water wheel depicting
the sugar-growing years of the 18th century.
Tours must be scheduled in advance and can be
arranged through any hotel.
Marquis
Estate
St.
Lucia's largest estate is located just outside
of Castries. This working plantation offers
insights into the production of St. Lucia's
present export crops, banana and copra, as well
as the principal crops of previous years, coffee
and cocoa. The tour includes a scenic drive
along St. Lucia's northeast coast to the countryside,
a visit to an old sugar mill, a boat ride on
the Marquis river and lunch at the plantation
house. Call 452-3762 to arrange a tour.
Morne
Coubaril Estate
Overlooking
the picturesque town of Soufriere, the tour
includes a demonstration of cocoa, copra, and
manioc processing, a walk on an original street
formerly used by mule carriages, and a visit
to a workers' village. To arrange a tour, call
459-7340
Helicopter
Tours
There
are few more exciting ways to view the splendid
beauty of the island than by helicopter. Visitors
can embark upon flights that loop around the
northern and southern portions of the island,
offering aerial panoramas that include the steaming
cauldron of Soufriere volcano and the emerald
carpet of the National Rain Forest.
Shopping
St.
Lucia offers shoppers the option of browsing
for duty-free imports like designer perfumes,
crystal and china at Pointe Seraphine, a harbour-front
shopping complex. Or, experience market day,
when farmers' wives flock to Castries' 100-year-old
outdoor market and gather under parasols to
display their colourful wares. Fresh fruits
and vegetables, spices, woven baskets and other
local crafts are offered. Local handicrafts
can also be found in a number of shops in Castries,
in addition to hand-screened batik apparel and
prints featuring island scenes at Caribelle
Batik factory and Bagshaws silk-screening studio.
Links
& Sources:
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