Soufrière District – former French capital beneath the Pitons
Soufrière was the capital of Saint Lucia during French rule. Its name, French for a volcanic area or sulphur in the air, recalls the volcanic activity that still shapes the district, including its famous 'drive-in' volcano. Framing the town to the south are the Pitons, Gros Piton and Petit Piton, rising straight from the coral reefs and forming part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The district also has links to French history: the nearby plantation at Anse Mamin, formerly Malmaison, is said to have been owned by the father of Joséphine de Beauharnais, the future Empress of France. Today Soufrière is a small fishing port with a growing tourism industry. Have a Soufrière story? Share it with the community!