Sites to see on Saint Barthelemy :Art & Culture

Art & Culture on Saint Barthelemy : Sites to see

Gustavia the Swede

The Gustavia area is the island’s administrative capital. (Note that the whole of Saint Barthelemy is considered one community and each hamlet counts as a distinct area).

Arriving to Saint Barthelemy by air or by sea is by no means the same adventure. As the boat approaches Gustavia, the beauty of it all hits you at once: the island’s Swedish heritage reveals itself in the multitude of small red-roofed houses lining the port, standing their ground despite the numerous human and natural catastrophes they have suffered during the course of history.

Three forts, Karl, Oscar and Gustav as well as numerous other buildings give evidence of the Swedish inheritance. The town has chosen to assert this heritage by re-establishing bilingual street names, in French as well as in Swedish. Lovers of history are sure to stumble across some interesting indications concerning this era.

Restaurants, cafes and shops line the capital’s narrow streets, displaying a pleasant everyday rhythm. Duty-free regulations attract all sorts of commercial activity, from amateur to prestigious. The yachting port and commercial port are the commune’s economic centre.

The Swedish Belfry

The church and tower are built of stone and wooden planks, in the old Swedish style of pointy roofs. This is one of the only constructions which have actually managed to survive the past centuries without significant damage, except for a certain part of the edifice which was destroyed by a hurricane. The tower was offered to the town of Carenage (referred to hitherto as Gustavia) by the Swedish crown on the occasion of the city’s re-construction. The sheer size of this clock tower, constructed entirely in Stockholm, was a wonder in itself in the 1800s, considering that the entire island was populated by not more than 3000 people. The chiming of bells is no longer to be heard, though, as the original bell was replaced by a clockwork in 1930 by the town’s mayor.

Vice prefectorial office

Dating back to Swedish times (early 19th century), this building was converted and re-converted into administrative offices of various functions (it even served as a prison) until it finally became the seat of the island’s vice-prefectorial office in 1963. It underwent the terrible damage of Hurricane Luis in 1995, but was reconstructed later on.

The town hall

Once you’ve seen the office of the vice-prefect, continue on your way towards the town centre (down Couturier street) to take a look at the town hall. The edifice was also built in 19th-century Swedish style, but with the specific function of a town hall from the very beginning. It is possible to visit the interior of the building, where you will see the proclamation of retrocession to France by the Swedish crown (16 March, 1878). The mayor’s office is considering moving to another building, and the current one will probably be used as a museum in the near future.

Caribbean Weather Station

Open to the public Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., for an appointment on other days, call Rene Fury on 06 90 41 88 59. The observation centre is operated by Meteo France, and it’s an excellent place to get relevant information on climate and hurricanes. The centre’s professionals will be glad to assist you and answer your questions concerning the weather and climate in general. Giant screen presentations and an interactive information centre await you in this original building located close to the port of Gustavia, with excellent views of the sea.