Vieux Fort District – forts, sugar and the island's southern gateway
Vieux Fort takes its name from an old fort: Dutch sailors built a fort here, although the first fort on Saint Lucia was built by the Oliphe Blossome settlers in 1605. In the second half of the 18th century Vieux Fort was the centre of the island's sugar industry. Local legend even says that the pirate Blackbeard hid his treasure at Black Bay.
During the Second World War, Vieux Fort became a base for American troops, and traces such as an old tunnel can still be seen in town. Today it is more industrial, home to Saint Lucia's second-largest town and Hewanorra International Airport, the island's main gateway. Do you know a Vieux Fort story or legend? Share it with the community!