Capital City of St.Kitts

The capital city of St.Kitts, Basseterre, means “lowland” in French. The city with the low-lying areas is set against the dramatic backdrop of the lush green hills of the island.

The city is an important seaport of the Leeward Islands. Founded by the French in 1627, the city came under definitive British colonial possession in 1783. The city became the capital of the island in 1983. 

In the yester years, the city has been the victim of many natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and fires. Even then, the city now retains the unique and impressive blend of French heritage and British colonial past.

The treasury building or the customs house in the city is a reminder of the value of these islands as sugar colonies. The domed colonial building stands right on the waterfront. All visitors to the island are sure to pass through the arches of this building.

The centerpiece of the city’s Georgian architecture is its Circus, modeled similar to the Piccadilly in London. It is a roundabout in the centre of the city. An architectural decoration, the Berkeley Memorial Clock stands in the middle of the Circus with four clock faces.

The block east of the circus is the independence square. This Square was originally called the Pall Mall Square and was built to conduct slave auctions and council meetings. But in 1983, to commemorate the independence of the island Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis from Great Britain, the square was officially named as the independence square.

The two notable churches a visitor to the island could never miss are the St.George’s Anglican Church and the Co-Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The St.George’s church was destroyed four times before it adopted its present style in 1869.  There are stones in the graveyard dating back to the early 18th century. A look around Cathedral area will surprise any visitor with fine architecture and plant life found typically in these areas.