Named after the Maréchal de Castries, the Minister of Marine responsible for the French colonies, Castries lies at the foot of a sheltered inlet, circled by steep, forested hills.

Ocean cruisers line the harbour, whilst the hustle and bustle of market stalls and souvenir vendors can be found around the waterfront.  A short walk inland will find you passing the Parliament and Court House on Laborie Street, as well as the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, with its delightful interior depicting biblical figures, African clerics and pineapple motifs, the traditional symbol for hospitality.  Next to the cathedral, Derek Walcott Square honours the St Lucian poet who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992.

Further on, past the Governor General residence, and you will come to the Morne Fortune Historic Area.  A memorial to the brave British soldiers who died whilst fighting the French can be seen in the grounds of Fort Charlotte, where old military buildings have been transformed into a college.