St.Lucia History & Culture

Since 1979 St Lucia has been a stable independent democracy within the British Commonwealth in the British West Indies. But after a few days on the island you'll discover influences and nuances hinting at its colourful past.

St Lucia (Windward islands) was first inhabited by the peaceful Arawak Indians, but they were conquered by their old enemies, the fierce Caribs. Columbus navigator was the first European to discover St Lucia in 1499. Then the British came and in 1667 the French arrived. St Lucia was alternately British and French for the next 150 years, before it was finally ceded to the British in 1814.

The war has left fortresses and relics behind. For example, Pigeon Island National Park and Fort Rodney. From the former British officers' mess, it is easy to imagine the cannons firing at French warships as they tried to slip past the fortified hilltop… You can also visit Morne Fortune, a site of a key battle, and Marigot Bay, once a vital wartime base and now a beautiful yacht haven. Diamond Falls and Mineral Baths, built by the French king, Louis XVI, to refresh and heal his troops stationed on St Lucia, are fascinating. As is historic Soufriere, the old French capital.

The Arawak Indians were well established in St Lucia before the Europeans ever set foot on the island. Later, came the warrior Caribs, who overcame the peace loving Arawaks, and by around 800AD, Carib settlements dominated the island.

The tribes left their mark on the island. They called it “Ioüanalao” and “Hewanorra” meaning “there where the iguana is found”. The name St Lucia was first used in the late 16th Century.

It was once believed that Christopher Columbus, on his fourth voyage to the West Indies in 1502, was the first European to set foot on Lucia, but Historians are now almost certain that he never landed on the island.

One theory suggests that Juan de Cosa, a little known explorer, who traveled with Columbus on his first and second voyages, named the island. One of his maps shows a small island named El Falcon near where St Lucia is located.

We still have many British characteristics and, although English is the official language, French patois is widely spoken by the locals. In spirit, the island is influenced by many cultures. St Lucians drive on the left and have a passion for cricket. But the Caribbean influence surfaces in the drinks - rum and locally brewed beer, in the music - calypso, soca, reggae, in the richly flavoured Creole cuisine, in the carnivals, festivals and days of national pride, and in the open-air markets.

You'll find St Lucia a colourful, unique mixture of history and charming influences.

Lonely Planet - Destination: St. Lucia - Lonely Planet - Destination: St. Lucia - 
Official Guide to St. Lucia - Official Guide to St. Lucia - Information on hotels, dining, and activities in the area. 
Saint Lucia: A Guided Tour - Saint Lucia: A Guided Tour - Maps, a guided tour, history, culture, flora and fauna, facts and links. In French and English. 
St. Lucia One Stop - St. Lucia One Stop- Featuring information on St. Lucia government, business, national statistics, tourism, jobs, newspapers, etc. 
St. Lucia Online - St. Lucia Online - Includes business directory, calendar, classifieds, and more. 
St. Lucia Online Tourist Guide - St. Lucia Online Tourist Guide - up-to-date tourist information on this beautiful Caribbean island, including hotel listings, maps, photos and much more

The island is home to many estates and sugar plantations, and many still seem straight out the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors can get a sense of the island’s unique style and architecture while taking in the 400-acre La Sikwi Sugar Mill plantation, which also includes a museum, theater and 40-foot waterwheel. The Morne Coubaril Estate also includes a worker’s village, sugar mill, and cocoa houses that have been meticulously preserved and will allow guests to feel like they’ve been brought back in time to another age.

 Other historical buildings of the sugar age can be seen at the Fond d’Or Nature Historic Park, and the nearby Fond Doux Estate, which remains a Caribbean-style working plantation. Here you can take in the sights of what the plantations were, and still are, as well as the tastes with some of the local rum punch.

There are several walks and tours available to help you experience the way of life that is truly St. Lucian. Start with a trip to the community of Fond Assau in Babonneu. Here you can experience the traditional music of the island as played by a local Chak Chak band. The local color includes food preparation of cassava bread, cooking on macambou leaves and even catching crayfish right from the river.

The Castries Heritage Walk in the island’s capital will provide detailed information on the architectural history of the old colonial city, while providing information on the ever-changing modern Caribbean. The Pigeon Island National Park also is a must-see for visitors looking to experience the island’s rich history. Here you can see a real pirate hideout, and visit Fort Charlotte, which is today a college but was the site of a battle between French and British forces for control of the island during colonial days.  

The Choiseul Heritage site is another village that is rich in history, and offers crafts for sale to visitors. It also offers some of the island’s most spectacular views!