Editing Castries

{{otheruses}}
{{short description|Capital of Saint Lucia}}
{{Infobox settlement
| 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, Castries|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{{spaces|2}}<small>("A Safe Harbour for Ships")</small><ref>{{cite web |url=http://castriescitycouncil.org/history.htm |title=Castries City Council - St Lucia |access-date=2009-07-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928033556/http://castriescitycouncil.org/history.htm |archive-date=2009-09-28 }}</ref>
| image_map          =
| mapsize            = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        =
| pushpin_map        = Saint Lucia#North America
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label_position = left
| coordinates        = {{coord|14|00|39|N|60|59|22|W|region:LC|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Saint Lucia}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Districts of Saint Lucia|District]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Castries Quarter|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 = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://freemeteo.com/default.asp?pid=15&gid=3576812&la=1 |title=Weather in Castries. Current weather &#124; lc.freemeteo.com |website=Freemeteo.com |access-date=2016-08-10}}</ref>
| 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<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/263/general_information/Caribbean/St-Lucia.html |title=St Lucia Travel Guide and Travel Information |website=Worldtravelguide.net |access-date=2016-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608060445/http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/263/general_information/Caribbean/St-Lucia.html |archive-date=2010-06-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.castriescitycouncil.org}}
| timezone1          = [[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
| utc_offset1        = -04:00
| area_code          = [[Area code 758|758]]
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
}}
[[File:STLUC-castries-hafen-stadt.jpg|thumb|Castries, Saint Lucia]]
'''Castries''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Castries.ogg|k|ə|ˈ|s|t|r|iː|z}}) is the [[capital city|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 [[Castries Quarter|district]] has a population of just under 70,000, as at May 2013. The city covers {{convert|80|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Geo>{{cite web|url=https://www.geonames.org/search.html?q=Castries&country=LC|title=Castries|website=GeoNames|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stats.gov.lc/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Castries-1.pdf/|title=Map of Castries|website=The Central Statistical Office of Saint Lucia|language=en-US|access-date=August 17, 2021|archive-date=August 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813141736/https://www.stats.gov.lc/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Castries-1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Statoids>{{cite web|url=http://www.statoids.com/ulc.html|title=Districts of Saint Lucia|website=Statoids|access-date=August 10, 2021|author=Law, Gwillim|year=2015}}</ref>

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 (economist)|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.<ref name="Harmsen" /> It adopted the name ''Castries'' in 1756, in honor of [[Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix]], [[Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix|marquis de Castries]], whose title relates to a [[Castries, Hérault|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).<ref>Albert Dauzat, Charles Rostaing, ''Dictionnaire étymologique des Noms de Lieux en France'', Librairie Guénégaud, 1984 re-issue, p. 155</ref>

==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 [[List of Naval Ministers of France|French Minister of the Navy and Colonies]].<ref name="Harmsen">{{cite book|last1=Harmsen|first1=Jolien|last2=Ellis|first2=Guy|last3=Devaux|first3=Robert|title=A History of St Lucia|date=2014|publisher=Lighthouse Road|location=Vieux Fort|isbn=9789769534001|page=23,43–44,52,163}}</ref>

In 1835, the British built the western wharf in 1642 to facilitate the coal trade and the first steamship arrived in 1841, the [[Royal Mail Steam Packet|RMS]] ''Solway''.<ref name=Harmsen/>{{rp|163,243–244}}

During World War II on 9 March 1942, the German [[German submarine U-161 (1941)|U-161]] sailed into Castries harbor at night and sank two allied ships,<ref name=Harmsen/>{{rp|275}}<ref name=Hubbard>{{cite book|last1=Hubbard|first1=Vincent|title=A History of St. Kitts|date=2002|publisher=Macmillan Caribbean|isbn=9780333747605|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofstkitts00vinc/page/117 117]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofstkitts00vinc/page/117}}</ref> including the Canadian [[ocean liner]] [[RMS Lady Nelson|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.<ref name=Harmsen/>{{rp|124–125,289}}

==Climate==
{{Weather box
| width       = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = 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
| source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
}}

==Tourism==
{{see also|Tourism in Saint Lucia}}
[[File:Castries Cruise Port (23678144863).jpg|thumb|Castries Harbour, a docking port for cruise ships.|left]]
One of the major tourist areas in St. Lucia, Castries is a port of call for [[cruise ship]]s. They dock at Pointe Seraphine, to the north of the harbour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Top 10 Things to Do in Castries, St. Lucia |url=https://traveltips.usatoday.com/top-10-things-castries-st-lucia-101633.html |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Travel Tips - USA Today |language=en |archive-date=2023-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104142555/https://traveltips.usatoday.com/top-10-things-castries-st-lucia-101633.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Pagebreak}}

Landmarks include the [[Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries|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 {{convert|845|ft|m|disp=or|adj=on|abbr=out}} hill). Beaches include [[Vigie Beach]], Malabar Beach, Choc Beach, and La Toc Beach.

== Transport ==<!--Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth country, so please do not Americanise this to "Transportation".-->
Castries is served by [[George F. L. Charles Airport]].<ref name="georgeflcharleslocation">{{cite web |title=SLASPA - George F.L. Charles Airport |url=https://www.slaspa.com/gflc/index.php/en/about |website=SLASPA |access-date=4 January 2023 |language=en-gb}}</ref> 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''&mdash;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]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2013 |title=OECS - Secretariat |url=https://www.oecs.org/powersavers/docs/media-center-press-release.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104143250/https://www.oecs.org/powersavers/docs/media-center-press-release.pdf |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |access-date=January 4, 2023 |website=OECS}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=New mayor, councillors sworn in |publisher=Office of the Prime Minister |date=2 September 2021 |url=http://www.govt.lc/news/new-mayor-councillors-sworn-in |access-date=4 September 2021}}</ref>

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.

[[File:CastriesStLuciaPanorama.jpg|thumb|centre|600px|Panorama of the Port of Castries from [[Morne Fortune]]]]

[[File:Port of Castries.jpg|thumb|centre|600px|Panorama of the Port of Castries]]

==See also==
*[[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States]]
*[[Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.stlucia.org/en/blog/castries-the-city-that-rose-from-the-ashes/ Castries, The City that Rose From The Ashes]: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061205234615/http://www.stlucia.org/tour/history.asp Interactive tour of St. Lucia's History and Culture]: Official site for St. Lucia Tourist Board
*[https://archive.today/20121224093307/http://worldaware.org.uk/education/projects/st_lucia/lesson_index.html Worldaware Lesson plan on Castries]: site owned by SOS Charity UK

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{{List of North American capitals}}
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[[Category:Castries| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Saint Lucia]]
[[Category:Capitals in the Caribbean]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1650]]
[[Category:Martinique–Saint Lucia border crossings]]
[[Category:Port cities in the Caribbean]]
[[Category:1650 establishments in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:1650 establishments in North America]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Saint Lucia]]