Not far from the Vigie peninsula, in the area of Port Castries Bay, tourists will find a charming beach resort named Castries. The city is situated in a naturally formed haven. The 20th century brought independence to this region and made Castries the capital of the Caribbean state of St. Lucia. Foreign tourists visit this place to see the pride of Castries with their own eyes – comfortable beaches located approximately two kilometers from the airport and very close to the city.
The city of Castries was founded by the French. This important event took place in 1650. However, the United Kingdom established its authority in the region in 1814. In 1979, an incredibly important event happened here. Castries has finally become independent. Thanks to the new status, the city became the capital of Saint Lucia.
Vigie Beach is a calling card of Castries. It is equally popular with guests of the city and its residents. Soft white sand completely covers this coastal area, and a stunning panorama of the surrounding nature simply cannot leave visitors indifferent. Even children find this area incredibly beautiful and attractive. The beach is free to enter just like all other beaches in Saint Lucia. According to local regulations, all beaches are municipal objects.
When enjoying a vacation at Vigie Beach, female vacationers need to keep in mind that it is prohibited to sunbathe topless here. However, it is easy to spend days admiring the picturesque area. This coastal area is quite silent. The sea is calm, so visitors can safely swim in the Caribbean Sea and sunbathe on soft and warm sand while watching cruise ships that regularly arrive in Castries. Guests of the city can take a ride in a water tram that takes passengers to the most famous and beautiful parts of Saint Lucia.
Don’t forget to attend one more beach situated in the Castries area – Choc Beach. This is an ideal destination for the whole family. The sea is always calm in this coastal area, so there are no high waves almost all the time. Choc Beach is an ideal place for swimming and tranquil beach recreation. Do you like water skiing? Visit the nearby café in this case because you can rent equipment in it. Tall and beautiful palm trees surround the beach, protecting tourists and residents of the city from the scorching sun.
A vacation in Castries can be educational as well. For this purpose, simply visit one of the major landmarks in the city – Fort Charlotte. It was built at the end of the 18th century. A visit to this fort is one more way to see how beautiful the nature of this region is. When looking down from the top of the fort, you can admire the nearby area and enjoy truly mesmerizing scenery. It is even possible to see the nearby island of Martinique as well as Python, a rock massive formed by volcanic activity.
Are you tired of the hot sun? You can always hide from it in the shade of old trees on Derek Walcott Square. The square had another name in the past – Christopher Columbus Square. This is the central square in Castries. The square got its new name after Noble Prize winner Derek Walcott in 1993. An old Samaan tree, the age of which is more than four hundred years, is the heart of this square. Local people enjoy making picnics in the shade of this centuries-old giant.
The Pigeon Island National Park is one more beautiful and impressive landmark that is located not far from Castries. It takes half an hour to reach it from the capital. This is a historical park that brings us to the time of war between France and the United Kingdom. At this park, visitors can see exotic flora with their own eyes as well as rare birds that do not live in other countries. The grey parrot is one of the main symbols of this park.
It is possible to get to Castries from Puerto Rico, Antigua, Martinique, Barbados, and Trinidad. The city has its own airport that accommodates flights from the territories mentioned above. Such cities as New York, Miami, Atlanta, and Toronto have flights to Hewanorra Airport. Tourists can get to Castries from this airport by helicopter. It is also possible to get a taxi that will take you to this charming city.
Sightseeing in Saint Lucia: things to see
Castries, the capital of the country, was founded by the French yet in the 18th century. Here, visitors can explore the beautiful historic quarter. It suffered from massive fires several times, but many buildings of the colonial period have survived until our days. Derek Walcott Square is the heart of the historic quarter. There are several beautiful buildings nearby and an old Saman tree, the age of which is approximately 400 years. There is a big and colorful market in Castries where visitors can always buy exotic fruits, interesting souvenirs, and artworks created by local artisans.
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