Castries

The town's colorful downtown market on Jeremie Street has been in existence since 1895; it is open Monday through Saturday 6-6. Saturday is the best time to visit the market, which is renowned for its lush tropical fruits, fresh vegetables, exotic spices, wicker furniture, wood carvings and handicrafts. Boutiques in town sell European perfumes, jewelry, clothes and fabric. Some shops sell handmade cane furniture and batik clothing, for which the island is noted.

Bordered by Peynier, Laborie and Micoud streets, the 1890s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception reveals impressive murals by St. Lucian artist Dunstan St. Omer. Derek Walcott Square, next to the cathedral, is named for the island's Nobel prizewinning poet. The square contains a 400-year-old samaan tree and a monument to the St. Lucians who died in World Wars I and II. An antique map collection focusing on St. Lucia and the Caribbean Sea can be found at the Central Library on Bourbon Street.

Morne Fortune, or “hill of good fortune,” is on the southern side of Castries. The 845-foot-high hill offers a striking view of Castries Harbour, Vigie Peninsula and the northern portion of the island. The road winds past Government House, a Victorian-style residence occupied by the governor-general. At the top of the Morne are the remains of Fort Charlotte, which changed hands between British and French forces during the 18th and 19th centuries. A monument marks the site of a battle fought in 1796. Many of the structures have been restored to house the University of the West Indies.

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