Castries facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Castries
City
Top: View of Castries; Middle: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Castries Harbour; Downtown Castries, Saint Lucia Government House
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Statio Haud Malefida Carinis  ("A Safe Harbour for Ships")
The District of Castries, showing Castries city (red dot)
Country	Saint Lucia
District	Castries District
Founded	1650 as "Carenage"
Renamed	1756 as "Castries"
Founded by	the French
Named for	Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries
Area
• Total	79 km2 (30.5 sq mi)
Elevation	2 m (6.56 ft)
Population  (2013)
• Total	20,000
• Density	250/km2 (660/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-4 (Eastern Caribbean Time Zone (ECT))
Area code(s)	758

Castries, Saint Lucia

Castries is the capital and largest city of Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia is an island country in the Caribbean. About 20,000 people live in the city itself. The wider area, called the Castries district, has nearly 70,000 people. The city covers about 80 square kilometers (30.5 square miles).

Castries is built on flat land, some of which was created by filling in parts of the sea. It's where the government meets and where many important businesses are located. The city streets are laid out like a grid, making it easy to find your way around. Its safe harbor welcomes big cargo ships, ferries, and cruise ships. You can find duty-free shops here, like at Point Seraphine and La Place Carenage.

Castries is famous for being the birthplace of two Nobel Prize winners. Arthur Lewis won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics in 1979. Derek Walcott won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992.

History of Castries

Castries has a long and interesting history.

Early Beginnings

In 1650, a group of 40 Frenchmen started a fort near a small bay. They called the area "Carenage." This was after St. Lucia was bought by some French leaders. In 1769, the capital was moved to the south side of the harbor.

Renaming the City

In 1785, the village of Carenage was renamed Castries. It was named after Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, marquis de Castries. He was the French Minister of the Navy and Colonies at the time.

Trade and War

In 1835, the British built a wharf to help with the coal trade. The first steamship arrived in 1841. During World War II, in 1942, a German submarine entered Castries harbor. It sank two Allied ships. One of these was the Canadian ship RMS Lady Nelson. It was later fixed and used as a hospital ship.

Rebuilding After Fires

Castries has faced many challenges. It has been rebuilt several times after big fires. Major fires happened on October 15, 1805, and April 6, 1813. The most famous fire was on June 19, 1948.

Castries Weather

Castries has a tropical climate. This means it is warm all year round. The average temperature is about 27.4 degrees Celsius (81.3 degrees Fahrenheit). It also gets a lot of rain, especially from June to November.

Tourism in Castries

Castries Harbour, a docking port for cruise ships.

Castries is a very popular place for tourists in Saint Lucia. Many cruise ships stop here. They dock at Pointe Seraphine, which is north of the harbor.

Famous Landmarks

When you visit Castries, there are many interesting places to see:

• The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a large and beautiful church.
• Derek Walcott Square was renamed to honor the island's Nobel Prize-winning poet, Derek Walcott.
• The City Library is a great place to learn more about the island.
• The Government House is where important government work happens.
• Castries Market is a lively place where you can find local goods.
• Fort Charlotte is at the top of Morne Fortune, a hill about 258 meters (845 feet) high. It offers amazing views.

Beaches to Visit

Castries also has several beautiful beaches where you can relax:

• Vigie Beach
• Malabar Beach
• Choc Beach
• La Toc Beach

Getting Around Castries

Air Travel

Castries is served by George F. L. Charles Airport for shorter flights. If you are on a longer flight, you will arrive at Hewanorra International Airport. This airport is near Vieux-Fort. The drive from Hewanorra to Castries can take about an hour and a half. You can also take a helicopter to shorten the travel time.

Sea Travel

Ferries travel between Castries and Fort-de-France in Martinique. If you have a yacht, you can dock in Castries. However, you must clear customs first. If the customs area is full, yachts have to wait at a special dock.

Bus System

Buses are a common way to get around the island. They run from Castries to all other areas. These buses are privately owned. They have green license plates that start with an "M," like "M456."

Images for kids

• 

  View of Castries

• 

  Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

• 

  Castries Harbour

• 

  Downtown Castries

• 

  Saint Lucia Government House

See also

In Spanish: Castries para niños