Basseterre is the capital city of St Kitts, and has a population of around 15,000. It is significant for being one of the oldest Caribbean towns, and was originally founded by the French in 1627 when it was the capital of the French colony, which at the time consisted of the northern and southern most parts of the island as the central area was under the control of the British.
By 1639 the city was a thriving port and became the capital of the French West Indies colony which included the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. By 1727 the British controlled the entire island, and chose to make Basseterre the capital city of St Kitts. In spite of the city being destroyed several times due to fire, earthquakes and floods, there are still a surprising number of beautifully restored older buildings remaining.
The name Basseterre is French for low land, and the city is situated in a valley, surrounded by hills. Basseterre is also known for being protected from winds, making it perfect for ships to anchor safely. It is quite a small town which has just four main streets running from east to west, and just one running north to south. In spite of its compact size, the city is the main hub for all the country’s administration as it contains all the federal buildings.
Landmarks of interest to visitors include Independence Square which was originally called Pall Mall Square, and is infamous for being the site of the slave market, and the Berkley memorial which stands in the middle of the Circus, a cross roads named after Piccadilly Circus in London.
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