Castries

Castries
Top: View of Castries; Middle: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Castries Harbour; Downtown Castries, Saint Lucia Government House
Flag of Castries
Coat of arms of Castries
Motto: 
Statio Haud Malefida Carinis  ("A Safe Harbour for Ships")[1]
Map of Castries District, the district containing the city of Castries
The District of Castries, showing Castries city (red dot)
Coordinates: 14°01′N 60°59′W / 14.017°N 60.983°W / 14.017; -60.983
Country Saint Lucia
DistrictCastries District
Founded1650 as "Carenage"
Renamed1756 as "Castries"
Founded bythe French
Named forCharles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries
Government
 • Governing bodyCastries City Council
 • MayorGeraldine Lendor-Gabriel
Area
 • Total
79 km2 (30.5 sq mi)
Elevation2 m (6.56 ft)
Population
 (2013)
 • Total
20,000
 • Density250/km2 (660/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-4 (Eastern Caribbean Time Zone (ECT))
Area code758
Websitewww.castriescitycouncil.org
Castries, Saint Lucia

Castries (/kəˈstrz/ ) 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 at May 2013. The city covers 80 km2 (31 sq mi).[4][5][6]

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.

  1. ^ "Castries City Council - St Lucia". Archived from the original on 2009-09-28. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  2. ^ "Weather in Castries. Current weather | lc.freemeteo.com". Freemeteo.com. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  3. ^ "St Lucia Travel Guide and Travel Information". Worldtravelguide.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-08. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  4. ^ "Castries". GeoNames. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  5. ^ "Map of Castries" (PDF). The Central Statistical Office of Saint Lucia. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  6. ^ Law, Gwillim (2015). "Districts of Saint Lucia". Statoids. Retrieved August 10, 2021.