Castries

Castries (pop. 52,900), capital and largest city of the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia. Bordered by a deep-water harbor on the island's northwest coast, Castries is the chief port, exporting bananas, sugarcane, molasses, cacao, and other tropical products. Colonized by France in 1651, St. Lucia was fought over by the French and British until 1814, when Great Britain took control. Britain ruled St. Lucia until 1979, when it became an independent nation.

See also: Saint Lucia.