Castries 56633 217653963 2008-06-07T00:51:27Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{For|the town in France|Castries, Hérault}} {{For|the Saint Lucian Quarter of the same name|Castries Quarter}} {{Infobox Settlement <!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available--> <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> <!-- Basic info ----------------> |name = <!-- at least one of the first two fields must be filled in --> |official_name = Castries |other_name = |native_name = <!-- if different from the English name --> |nickname = |settlement_type = <!-- e.g. Town, Village, City, etc.--> |total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> |motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> |image_skyline = Day248bdriveb.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = Santa lucia castries political.png |mapsize = |map_caption = The Quarter of Castries, showing Castries city (red dot) |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map --> |pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> |pushpin_map_caption = |pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Saint Lucia |subdivision_type1 = |subdivision_name1 = |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = <!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government --> |seat_type = |seat = |parts_type = |parts_style = <!-- =list (for list), coll (for collapsed list), para (for paragraph format) Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5--> |parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list --> |p1 = |p2 = <!-- etc. up to p50: for separate parts to be listed--> <!-- Politics -----------------> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> |leader_name1 = |established_title = Founded |established_date = 1650 by the French <!-- Area ---------------------> |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =79 <!-- ALL fields with measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> |area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion--> |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = <!-- Elevation --------------------------> |elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags--> |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |elevation_max_m = |elevation_max_ft = |elevation_min_m = |elevation_min_ft = <!-- Population -----------------------> |population_as_of =2001 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total =61341 |population_density_km2 =auto <!--For automatic calculation, any density field may contain: auto --> |population_density_sq_mi = <!-- General information ---------------> |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coor_type = <!-- can be used to specify what the coordinates refer to --> |latd=14 |latm=01 |lats= |latNS=N |longd=60 |longm=59 |longs= |longEW=W <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = '''[[Human Development Index|HDI]]''' (2006) |blank_info = 0.814 – <span style="color:#090">high</span> |website = |footnotes = }} '''Castries''' ({{pronEng|ˈkæstriːz}}), 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 {{coor dm|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 {{convert|30.5|sqmi|km2|0|}}. 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 and 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. 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== Castries was founded by the [[France|French]] in [[1650]] as "Carenage" (meaning safe anchorage), then renamed in 1756 after [[Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries]], commander of a French expeditionary force to Corsica that year. Castries has been rebuilt, having been destroyed by fire several times, notably on [[June 19]], [[1948]]. ==Tourism== [[Image:Day245ccheckini.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Some houses on the hill, taken from a patio]] {{seealso|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. Castries has a few landmarks such as the [[Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries|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). 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. ==Transport==<!--Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth country, so please do not Americanise this to "Transportation".--> [[Image:Day246acastriesg.JPG|right|thumb|300px]] 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. 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. 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]]. ==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]]. 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]]. ==See also== *[[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States]] *[[Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court]] ==References== <references /> ==External links== *[http://www.stlucia.org/tour/history.asp Interactive tour of St. Lucia's History and Culture]- Official site for St. Lucia Tourist Board *[http://worldaware.org.uk/education/projects/st_lucia/lesson_index.html Worldaware Lesson plan on Castries] - site owned by SOS Charity UK {{North American capitals}} [[Category:Towns in Saint Lucia]] [[Category:Capitals in North America]] [[Category:Settlements established in 1650]] [[af:Castries]] [[am:ካስትሪስ]] [[ast:Castries]] [[be-x-old:Кастрыз]] [[bg:Кастрийс]] [[ca:Castries]] [[ceb:Castries]] [[de:Castries]] [[et:Castries]] [[es:Castries]] [[eo:Castries (Sankta Lucia)]] [[fr:Castries (Sainte-Lucie)]] [[gd:Castries]] [[gl:Castries]] [[ko:캐스트리스]] [[hr:Castries]] [[io:Castries]] [[id:Castries]] [[it:Castries (Saint Lucia)]] [[he:קסטריס]] [[sw:Castries]] [[ht:Kastri]] [[lt:Kastris]] [[hu:Castries]] [[nl:Castries (Saint Lucia)]] [[ja:カストリーズ]] [[no:Castries]] [[nov:Castries]] [[oc:Castries]] [[pms:Castries]] [[pl:Castries (Saint Lucia)]] [[pt:Castries]] [[ru:Кастри]] [[sk:Castries]] [[sr:Кастри]] [[fi:Castries (kaupunki)]] [[sv:Castries]] [[tl:Castries]] [[vi:Castries]] [[tr:Castries]] [[zh:卡斯特里]]