Castries

---

title: "Castries" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["castries", "towns-in-saint-lucia", "capitals-in-the-caribbean", "populated-places-established-in-1650", "martinique–saint-lucia-border-crossings", "port-cities-and-towns-in-the-caribbean", "1650-establishments-in-the-french-colonial-empire", "1650-establishments-in-north-america", "populated-coastal-places-in-saint-lucia"] description: "Capital and largest city of Saint Lucia" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castries" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Capital and largest city of Saint Lucia ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
official_name	Castries
settlement_type	City
image_flag	Flag of Castries.svg
flag_size	125px
image_shield	Coat of Arms of Castries.png
image_skyline	{{multiple image
border	infobox
total_width	290
image_style	border:1;
perrow	1/2
image1	View of Castries Saint Lucia Day248bdriveb.jpg
caption1	Global view of Castries
image2	St. Lucia, Karibik - Castries - Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception - panoramio.jpg
caption2	Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
image3	Castries Harbor from Morne Fortune, St Lucia.jpg
caption3	Castries Harbour
image4	Castries Town. - Flickr - gailhampshire.jpg
caption4	Downtown Castries
image5	Government House (39934950533).jpg
caption5	Saint Lucia Government House
motto	Statio Haud Malefida Carinis("A Safe Harbour for Ships")
pushpin_map	Saint Lucia#North America
pushpin_relief	yes
pushpin_label_position	left
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Saint Lucia
subdivision_type1	District
subdivision_name1	Castries District
established_title	Founded
established_date	1650 as "Carenage"
established_title1	Renamed
established_date1	1756 as "Castries"
founder	the French
named_for	Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries
leader_title	Governing body
leader_name	Castries City Council
leader_title1	Mayor
leader_name1	Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel
area_total_km2	79
area_total_sq_mi	30.5
elevation_footnotes
elevation_m	2
elevation_ft	6.56
population_total	20000
population_as_of	2013
population_density_km2	auto
population_density_sq_mi	auto
population_blank1_title	Estimate 2004
website
timezone1	AST
utc_offset1	-04:00
area_code	758
::

| official_name = Castries | settlement_type = City | image_flag = Flag of Castries.svg | flag_size = 125px | image_shield = Coat of Arms of Castries.png | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 290 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 1/2 | image1 = View of Castries Saint Lucia Day248bdriveb.jpg | caption1 = Global view of Castries | image2 = St. Lucia, Karibik - Castries - Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception - panoramio.jpg | caption2 = Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception | image3 = Castries Harbor from Morne Fortune, St Lucia.jpg | caption3 = Castries Harbour | image4 = Castries Town. - Flickr - gailhampshire.jpg | caption4 = Downtown Castries | image5 = Government House (39934950533).jpg | caption5 = Saint Lucia Government House | motto = Statio Haud Malefida Carinis("A Safe Harbour for Ships") | image_map = | mapsize = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Saint Lucia#North America | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_label_position = left | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Saint Lucia | subdivision_type1 = District | subdivision_name1 = Castries District | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1650 as "Carenage" | established_title1 = Renamed | established_date1 = 1756 as "Castries" | founder = the French | named_for = Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries | leader_title = Governing body | leader_name = Castries City Council | leader_title1 = Mayor | leader_name1 = Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel | area_total_km2 = 79 | area_total_sq_mi = 30.5 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 2 | elevation_ft = 6.56 | population_total = 20000 | population_as_of = 2013 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi = auto | population_blank1_title = Estimate 2004 | website = | timezone1 = AST | utc_offset1 = -04:00 | area_code = 758 | image_seal = | seal_size = ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/STLUC-castries-hafen-stadt.jpg" caption="Castries, Saint Lucia"] ::

Castries () is the capital and largest city of Saint Lucia, an island country in the Caribbean. The urban area has a population of approximately 20,000, while the eponymous district has a population of just under 70,000, as of May 2013. The city covers 80 km2.

Castries is on a flood plain and is built on reclaimed land. It houses the seat of government and the head offices of many foreign and local businesses. The city is laid out in a grid pattern. Its sheltered harbour receives cargo vessels, ferries and cruise ships. It houses duty-free shopping facilities such as Point Seraphine and La Place Carenage.

Castries is the birthplace of Arthur Lewis, winner of the 1979 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, as well as of Derek Walcott, winner of the 1992 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Name

The original name was Carénage ("safe anchorage" in French, in reference to the city's deep water port), and was given by the French in 1650, at the time of founding. It adopted the name Castries in 1756, in honor of Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries, whose title relates to a commune in southern France; the origin for the commune's name is the Latin word castra, plural of castrum ("fortified field", or "strong castle, fortified city" by extension).

History

In 1650, the fort auprès du Petit Cul-de-Sac et de la rivière du Carénage was founded by a group of 40 Frenchmen led by de Rousselan, when St. Lucia was purchased by Capt. du Parquet and Monsieur Houel from the French West India Company. The capital was moved to the south side of the harbor in 1769 by Gov. Baron de Micoud. In 1785, the village of Carénage was renamed Castries, after Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries, the French Minister of the Navy and Colonies.

In 1835, the British built the western wharf in 1642 to facilitate the coal trade and the first steamship arrived in 1841, the RMS Solway.

During World War II on 9 March 1942, the German U-161 sailed into Castries harbor at night and sank two allied ships, including the Canadian ocean liner RMS Lady Nelson, which was subsequently refloated in the harbour and taken to Canada to be converted to a hospital ship.

Castries has been rebuilt many times, following major fires on 15 October 1805, 6 April 1813, and most notably on 19 June 1948.

Climate

Castries has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen: Af).

| width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | collapsed = yes | location = George F. L. Charles Airport (1991–2020) | Jan high C = 29.0 | Feb high C = 29.1 | Mar high C = 29.7 | Apr high C = 30.5 | May high C = 31.1 | Jun high C = 30.8 | Jul high C = 30.9 | Aug high C = 31.2 | Sep high C = 31.5 | Oct high C = 31.2 | Nov high C = 30.4 | Dec high C = 29.6 | year high C = 30.4 | Jan mean C = 26.1 | Feb mean C = 26.1 | Mar mean C = 26.5 | Apr mean C = 27.3 | May mean C = 28.1 | Jun mean C = 28.1 | Jul mean C = 28.0 | Aug mean C = 28.1 | Sep mean C = 28.2 | Oct mean C = 27.9 | Nov mean C = 27.4 | Dec mean C = 26.6 | year mean C = 27.4 | Jan low C = 23.1 | Feb low C = 23.0 | Mar low C = 23.3 | Apr low C = 24.2 | May low C = 25.1 | Jun low C = 25.3 | Jul low C = 25.2 | Aug low C = 25.0 | Sep low C = 24.8 | Oct low C = 24.5 | Nov low C = 24.3 | Dec low C = 23.7 | year low C = 24.3 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 105.0 | Feb precipitation mm = 72.3 | Mar precipitation mm = 66.1 | Apr precipitation mm = 86.2 | May precipitation mm = 105.1 | Jun precipitation mm = 156.6 | Jul precipitation mm = 199.0 | Aug precipitation mm = 217.6 | Sep precipitation mm = 206.1 | Oct precipitation mm = 250.9 | Nov precipitation mm = 233.8 | Dec precipitation mm = 130.0 | year precipitation mm = 1828.7 | unit precipitation days = 1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 17.3 | Feb precipitation days = 12.4 | Mar precipitation days = 11.7 | Apr precipitation days = 11.1 | May precipitation days = 11.6 | Jun precipitation days = 16.4 | Jul precipitation days = 20.4 | Aug precipitation days = 18.9 | Sep precipitation days = 16.2 | Oct precipitation days = 18.3 | Nov precipitation days = 18.9 | Dec precipitation days = 16.1 | year precipitation days = 189.3 | Jan humidity = 73.7 | Feb humidity = 71.5 | Mar humidity = 71.4 | Apr humidity = 73.1 | May humidity = 74.0 | Jun humidity = 76.0 | Jul humidity = 78.0 | Aug humidity = 79.0 | Sep humidity = 78.0 | Oct humidity = 79.3 | Nov humidity = 79.5 | Dec humidity = 75.1 | year humidity = | Jan sun = 271.6 | Feb sun = 257.8 | Mar sun = 299.4 | Apr sun = 291.9 | May sun = 298.2 | Jun sun = 280.7 | Jul sun = 290.3 | Aug sun = 287.1 | Sep sun = 273.2 | Oct sun = 270.0 | Nov sun = 255.0 | Dec sun = 269.9 | year sun = | source 1 = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/5.5/data/0-data/Region-4-WMO-Normals-9120/SaintLucia/CSV/GEORGE_F_L_CHARLES_78947.csv |title = George F L Charles Climate Normals for 1991-2020 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |format = CSV |access-date = 20 August 2024}} | source 2 = Weather.Directory |title= Castries Weather & Climate Guide |access-date= 9 Sep 2025 |website= Weather.Directory}}

Tourism

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Castries_Cruise_Port_(23678144863).jpg" caption="Castries Harbour, a docking port for cruise ships."] ::

One of the major tourist areas in St. Lucia, Castries is a port of call for cruise ships. They dock at Pointe Seraphine, to the north of the harbour.

Landmarks include the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Derek Walcott Square (renamed from Columbus Square to honour the island's Nobel Prize-winning poet, Derek Walcott), the City Library, the Government House, Castries Market, and Fort Charlotte, at the top of Morne Fortune (an 845 ft hill). Beaches include Vigie Beach, Malabar Beach, Choc Beach, and La Toc Beach.

Transport ==

Castries is served by George F. L. Charles Airport. Passengers on longer flights arrive at Hewanorra International Airport, near Vieux-Fort. The drive between Hewanorra and Castries can take an hour and a half. Helicopter service between the airports shortens travel time.

Ferries run between Castries and Fort-de-France, Martinique. Yachts may 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 that do not are fined. Afterward, yachts may anchor in front of Castries Town or Vigie Creek.

Standard bus routes run from Castries to all outlying districts on the island. The buses are private (not subsidized by government) bearing green license plates with numbers that start with an M—for example, M456.

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.

The mayor of Castries is Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel, who took office in September 2021.

A number of international embassies and consulates keep their headquarters in Castries. They include the Organization of American States, British High Commission, Mexican Embassy, embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (in Rodney Bay), Dominican Republic Consulate, French Embassy, Italian Vice Consulate, Jamaican Consulate, Netherlands Consulate, Norwegian Consulate, Brazilian Embassy and Venezuelan Embassy.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/CastriesStLuciaPanorama.jpg" caption="Panorama of the Port of Castries from [[Morne Fortune"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Port_of_Castries.jpg" caption="Panorama of the Port of Castries"] ::

References

References

1. "Castries City Council - St Lucia".
2. "Weather in Castries. Current weather | lc.freemeteo.com".
3. "St Lucia Travel Guide and Travel Information".
4. "Castries".
5. "Map of Castries".
6. Law, Gwillim. (2015). "Districts of Saint Lucia".
7. Albert Dauzat, Charles Rostaing, ''Dictionnaire étymologique des Noms de Lieux en France'', Librairie Guénégaud, 1984 re-issue, p. 155
8. (2014). "A History of St Lucia". Lighthouse Road.
9. (2002). "A History of St. Kitts". Macmillan Caribbean.
10. "The Top 10 Things to Do in Castries, St. Lucia".
11. "SLASPA - George F.L. Charles Airport".
12. (November 4, 2013). "OECS - Secretariat".
13. (2 September 2021). "New mayor, councillors sworn in". Office of the Prime Minister.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::