Things to see and do Kingstown

It is one of the most important and popular sites in St. Vincent. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens. It is also an important conservation site (especially for the St. Vincent parrot).

This beautiful garden covers 8 hectares and is located 10 minutes drive from the capital Kingstown. It was created in 1765 by General Robert Melville who was at the time governor of the Windward Islands. The botanical garden was founded for the conservation of rare and wild plants as well as for the importation of other species growing in the same climate. The first curator was a horticulturist, Dr. Young, also a surgeon in the British forces. St. Vincent was then invaded by the French from 1770 to 1783 but Dr. Young remained and took care of the gardens. He worked in collaboration with General De Bouillé, commander in chief of the French forces in Martinique and also a horticulturalist. These two green-thumbed men exchanged plants with each other for the botanical gardens of St Vincent and Martinique respectively.

Among the wide variety of tropical trees and shrubs, you will find breadfruit trees, an original variety imported by Captain Bligh, but also baobabs, flamboyants, cane trees, banyans, campêches, pirayas, frangipanis, avocado trees, mango trees but also plants such as orchids

Remarkable Georgian-style architecture dating from the 1800s, St George Anglican Cathedral stands in the heart of Kingstown. According to architects Buisseret and Clarke, the central nave and ^1st floors of the tower date from 1820. The stained glass windows were commissioned by Queen Victoria to honor the arrival of her first grandson, the Duke of Clarence. 3 stained-glass windows, designed by artist Kempe, are installed on the west side, with a larger window shining to the south.

Overlooking the sea, with its cannons pointing landward, it is one of the many testimonies to the island's history and rich heritage. Built of stone, Fort Charlotte was begun by the French in 1786 and completed by the English in 1806. Located five minutes from the capital, it stands at the entrance to Kingstown Bay on the crest of a sheer cliff, more than 600 feet above sea level (approx. 196 metres). In the heart of the fort, the works of Lindsay Prescott, once an officer in the English navy, allow today's visitors to appreciate several paintings evocative of the period, set against the backdrop of the history of the Black Caribs. Curiously, the fort's cannons are aimed at the land, not the sea... According to some, the greatest concern of the garrisons of yesteryear was the unexpected attacks of the Carib Indians, rather than the methodical assaults of enemy vessels pounding the sea, helm to starboard, on the opposite side of the fortress. Today, Fort Charlotte houses a small bay monitoring and weather control station. A vestige of the island and a must-see on any visitor's itinerary, it could soon be welcoming artists and traditional craftspeople from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to its walls. The idea is very appealing and will undoubtedly offer visitors a new vision of the island through art and history. A very pleasant visit!

The Ministry of Tourism of St. Vincent is committed to promoting St. Vincent and the Grenadines and advancing sustainable development. From the rainforest of St. Vincent to the idyllic beaches, coral reefs and turquoise lagoons of the Grenadines, this organization will inform you about sailing spots, scuba diving, must-see sites, not to mention what makes the reputation of the site: cruises and charters.

Located 40 minutes by car from the capital Kingstown, on the leeward coast of St. Vincent, this magnificent park is the ideal place to come and spend a day of discovery in the midst of untamed nature. A moment of serenity guaranteed! Wallilabou Heritage park runs along the Wallilabou River. You have the possibility to picnic on the spot, to eat or to swim under beautiful small waterfalls. For the curious and the movie lovers, the site of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies is just next door.