Castries (IPA: [ˈkɑstriz]), population 10 634, aggl. 37 963 (2001-05-12), is the capital city of Saint Lucia, a country in the West Indies. Castries is located at 14°1′N, 60°59′W. The district with the same name had a population of 61 341 in 2001-05-22, and stretches over an area of 79 km2. Castries is a commune in the Hérault département in southern France. ... The Quarter of Castries, showing Castries city (red dot) Castries Quarter is one of eleven Quarters on the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 399 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 639 pixel, file size: 325 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 399 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 639 pixel, file size: 325 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...

Castries is located in a flood plain and is actually built on reclaimed land. It houses the seat of government and the head offices of many of the businesses both foreign and local. The city's design is in a grid pattern similar to a metropolitan city like New York but on a much smaller scale. It has a sheltered harbour which receives cargo vessels, ferry boats as well as cruise ships. It contains duty free shopping facilities such as Point Seraphine and La Place Carinage, many restaurants which offer varied menus from local to Chinese, supermarkets and many other shopping facilities. The city is well serviced by a bus system and taxi service. This article is about the state. ... This article is about a tax measure. ...

St Lucia's main post office is located in Castries. Because most parts of the country do not use standard street addresses, mail is largely sent to P.O. boxes. Any mail sent without a town name ends up in the Castries post office.

History

The Quarter of Castries, showing Castries city (red dot)

Castries was founded by the French in 1650, named after Charles Eugène Gabriel de la Croix, Marquis de Castries. Previously, it was called "Carenage" (meaning safe anchorage). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (733x1036, 20 KB) Summary this is a political map showing the quarter of Castries on the island nation of Santa Lucia. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (733x1036, 20 KB) Summary this is a political map showing the quarter of Castries on the island nation of Santa Lucia. ... Year 1650 (MDCL) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Castries has been rebuilt, having been destroyed by fire several times, notably on June 19, 1948. is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Tourism

See also: Tourism in Saint Lucia

One of the major tourist areas in St. Lucia, Castries is a port of call for cruise ships. The greatest concentration of hotels, resorts, and restaurants are near Castries and the island's other main towns, Gros Islet, Soufrière, and Rodney Bay. The city maintains three tourist offices, including one in the airport. The relatively unspoiled beaches and landscape, such as this one, are what attract many tourists to Saint Lucia. ... Gros Islet is the newest town in Saint Lucia, having been recently promoted from a village to a town. ... Soufrière can mean the following Soufrière, a volcano on the island of Saint Vincent in the West Indies. ...

Castries has a few landmarks such as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Derek Walcott Square (named after the island's Nobel Prize-winning poet, Derek Walcott), the Government House, and Fort Charlotte, at the top of Morne Fortune (an 845-foot hill). The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, located in Derek Walcott Square, Castries, Saint Lucia, is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Castries, currently Kelvin Felix. ... Derek Walcott, courtesy of the Nobel Foundation Derek Alton Walcott (born January 23, 1930) is a West-Indian poet, playwright, writer and visual artist who writes mainly in English. ...

One of the major draws for tourists to St. Lucia is its beaches, and there are several in or very near Castries. Vigie Beach, Malabar Beach, Choc Beach, and La Toc Beach are all within easy reach. Vigie Beach, immediately opposite the Airport Check-in and Departure lounge area Vigie Beach is located 2 km north of Castries, running parallel and immediately adjacent to the George F. L. Charles Airport. ...

Transport

Castries is served by George F. L. Charles Airport, also known as Vigie Airport. Passengers on longer flights arrive at Hewanorra International Airport, near Vieux-Fort. However, the drive between Hewanorra and Castries can take an hour and a half. Helicopter service between the two airports shortens travel time. Ferry service between Soufrière and Castries is another way travelers shorten their transportation time from Hewanorra Airport. George F. L. Charles Airport (Formerly Vigie Airport) (IATA: SLU, ICAO: TLPC) is the smaller of two airport in Saint Lucia, the other being Hewanorra International Airport. ... Hewanorra International Airport (IATA: UVF, ICAO: TLPL), near Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, in the Caribbean, is the larger of the countrys two airports and is managed by the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA). ... Vieux Fort is located in the southern part of St. ...

In addition to the Castries - Soufrière ferry route, ferries run regularly throughout the day between Castries and Fort-de-France, Martinique. Yachts may also dock in Castries, though they must clear customs first. When the customs area is full, yachts must anchor at the quarantine dock to wait. Those who don't comply are fined. Afterward, yachts may anchor in front of Castries Town or Vigie Creek. Fort-de-France is the capital of Frances Caribbean département doutre-mer of Martinique. ...

Standard bus routes run between Castries and Gros Islet, as well as Castries and Rodney Bay. To get to other areas of the island, private minivan buses offer transportation from bus stops, or simply by being flagged down on the roadside. These private buses run from Castries to Soufrière and Vieux Fort. Soufrière can mean the following Soufrière, a volcano on the island of Saint Vincent in the West Indies. ... Vieux Fort is located in the southern part of St. ...

Political institutions

As well as being the capital city of Saint Lucia, Castries hosts the secretariat of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Castries also hosts the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Map of the Eastern Caribbean showing OECS member states (dark green) and associate member states (light green) Secretariat Castries, St. ... The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is a Superior Court of record for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), including six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three British Overseas Territories (Anguilla, British...

A number of international embassies and consulates keep their headquarters in Castries. They include the Organization of American States, British High Commission, Chinese Embassy, Dominican Republic Consulate, French Embassy, Italian Vice Consulate, Jamaican Consulate, Netherlands Consulate, Norwegian Consulate, and Venezuelan Embassy. Headquarters Washington, D.C. Official languages English, French, Spanish, Portuguese Membership 35 countries Leaders  -  Secretary General José Miguel Insulza (since 26 May 2005) Establishment  -  Charter first signed 30 April 1948 in effect 1 December 1951  Website http://www. ... The British High Commission is an organization found in many former British colonies that are now members of the Commonwealth. ...

Gallery

In the town itself Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 970 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free...

Some houses on the hill, taken from a patio Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 991 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free...

See also

• Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
• Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Map of the Eastern Caribbean showing OECS member states (dark green) and associate member states (light green) Secretariat Castries, St. ... The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is a Superior Court of record for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), including six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three British Overseas Territories (Anguilla, British...

External links

• Interactive tour of St. Lucia's History and Culture- Official site for St. Lucia Tourist Board
• Worldaware Lesson plan on Castries - site owned by SOS Charity UK