Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Castries, Saint Lucia

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception The town’s Catholic cathedral (Laborie St), inbuilt 1897, is a grand stone construction that has a wonderfully painted interior of trompe l’oeil columns and colorfully detailed biblical scenes. The island’s patron saint, St Lucia, is portrayed directly above the altar. The church richly incorporates both Caribbean and African influences, together with images of a Black Madonna and little one, and the liberal use of shiny purple, inexperienced and yellow tones. Morne Fortune Sitting atop the 2795ft Morne Fortune, about 3 miles south of Castries heart, is Fort Charlotte, whose development started beneath the French and was continued by the British.


Due to its strategic hilltop vantage overlooking Castries, the fort was a source of fierce combating between the French and British in colonial times. The fort buildings have been renovated and given a new life as the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. At the rear of the college, a small obelisk monument commemorates the 27th Inniskilling Regiment’s retaking of the hill from French forces in 1796. Close to the monument you’ll also find a few cannons and a reasonably good view of the coast north to Pigeon Point.

When you just want a good view of the town, there’s no have to enterprise as far as the college. The scenic lookout opposite Government House, about half a mile south of Castries, has a positive view of the port and capital, and in addition offers a glimpse of the attractive crown-topped Victorian mansion that serves as the residence of the governor-general.

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