Saint Barthélemy,[c] officially theCollectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy,[d] also known asSt. Barts (English)[7] orSt. Barth (French), is anoverseas collectivity ofFrance[8] in theCaribbean. The island lies about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southeast of the island ofSaint Martin;[9] it is northeast of the Dutch islands ofSaba andSint Eustatius, as well as north of the independent country ofSaint Kitts and Nevis.
Saint Barthélemy was for many years a French commune forming part ofGuadeloupe, which is an overseas region and department of France. In 2003 the island voted in favour ofsecession from Guadeloupe to form a separateoverseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer, abbreviated toCOM) of France. The collectivity is one of four territories among theLeeward Islands in the northeasternCaribbean that make up theFrench West Indies, along withSaint Martin,Guadeloupe (200 kilometres (120 mi) southeast) andMartinique.
A volcanic island fully encircled by shallow reefs, Saint Barthélemy has an area of 25 square kilometres (9.7 sq mi)[a][3] and a population of 9,961 at the January 2017 census.[5] Itscapital isGustavia,[10] which also contains the main harbour. It is the only Caribbean island that was aSwedish colony for any significant length of time. It remained so for nearly a century before it returned to French ruleafter an 1877 referendum. Symbolism from theSwedish national arms, theThree Crowns, still appears in the island's coat of arms. The language, cuisine and culture, however, are distinctlyFrench. The island is a popular tourist destination during the winter holiday season, geared towards the high-end, luxury tourist market.
Before European contact the island was possibly frequented by Eastern CaribbeanTaíno andArawak people, who called the island 'Ouanalao',[11] though it is believed that the island was not inhabited permanently due to its lack offresh water sources and poor soil.[e]Christopher Columbus was the first European to encounter the island in 1493.[11] Sporadic visits continued for the next hundred years until formal colonisation began taking shape.[10]
By 1648 the island was settled by the French, encouraged byPhillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy, the lieutenant-governor of the French West India Company, and initially comprised about 50 to 60 settlers, later augmented by smaller numbers coming fromSt Kitts.[13] Led by Jacques Gentes, the new arrivals began cultivatingcacao. However, the settlement was attacked by Caribs in 1656 and briefly abandoned.[11][14]
De Poincy was the dominant administrator in this period and a member of theOrder of Saint John. He facilitated the transfer of ownership from theCompagnie des Îles de l'Amérique to the Order. He continued to rule the island until he died in 1660. Five years later, it was bought by theFrench West India Company along with the Order's other possessions in the Caribbean.[11] By 1674, the company was dissolved and the islands became part of the French Kingdom and added to the colony ofGuadeloupe.[14]
Seal of the governor of the Swedish colony, 1784–1877Historicalquartiers (1801)
The island proved economically unsuccessful, and was subject to the activities of pirates (most notablyDaniel Montbars aka 'Montbars the Exterminator'). In 1744,British forces captured the island, holding it until 1764 when it reverted to French control.[11] Thus deeming it to be of little worth,King Louis XVI traded the island toSweden in 1784 in return for trading privileges inGothenburg.[15] This change of control saw progress and prosperity as the Swedes declaredGustavia (named after the Swedish kingGustav III who ruled at that time) a free port, convenient for trading by the Europeans for goods, includingcontraband material.[16]: 22–23 [11][17]
Slavery was practised in St. Barthélemy under theOrdinance concerning the Police of Slaves and free Coloured People[19] of 1787. The last legally owned slaves in the Swedish colony of St. Barthélemy were granted their freedom by the state on 9 October 1847.[20] Since the island was not a plantation area, the freed slaves suffered economic hardships due to lack of opportunities for employment and many left to more prosperous islands, and few people of African descent remain on the island.[16]: 24
In 1852, a devastating hurricane[verification needed] hit the island, followed by a fire.[citation needed] The economy suffered, and thus Sweden sought to relieve themselves of the island. Followinga referendum in 1877, Sweden sold the island back to France in 1878,[16]: 157–159 after which it was administered as part ofGuadeloupe.[15] Swedish media supported the sale of the island to France, characterizing the island's poverty as a source of national humiliation for Sweden.[21]
On 19 March 1946, the people of the island became French citizens with full rights.[11]With few economic prospects on the islands, many men from St. Barthélemy took jobs onSaint Thomas to support their families.[citation needed] Organised tourism and hotels began in earnest inthe 1960s and developed in the 1970s onwards, particularly after the building of the island's landing strip that can accommodate mid-sized aircraft.[citation needed] The island soon became renowned as a high-class luxury destination, being frequented by numerous celebrities such asGreta Garbo,Howard Hughes,Benjamin de Rothschild,David Rockefeller,Lorne Michaels,Chevy Chase,Steve Martin,Jimmy Buffett andJohnny Hallyday.[11] The boost in tourist numbers has led to a rise in living standards and rapid modernisation.[citation needed]
Saint Barthélemy was for many years a French commune forming part ofGuadeloupe, which is an overseas region and department of France. Through areferendum in 2003, island residents sought separation from the administrative jurisdiction of Guadeloupe. The island officially became a separate collectivity on 22 February 2007.[23] The island of Saint Barthélemy became an Overseas Collectivity (COM). A governing territorial council waselected for its administration, which has provided the island with a certain degree of autonomy. A senator represents the island inParis. St. Barthélemy has retained its free port status.[24][25] Saint Barthélemy ceased being an outermost region andleft the EU, to become an OCT, (Overseas Country or Territory) on 1 January 2012.[26]
The island sustained damage fromHurricane Irma in September 2017 but recovered quickly, and by early 2018 transport and electricity were largely operational.[11]
Approximately 250 kilometres (160 mi) east ofPuerto Rico and the nearerVirgin Islands, St. Barthélemy lies immediately southeast of the islands ofSaint Martin andAnguilla. St. Barthélemy is separated from Saint Martin by theSaint-Barthélemy Channel. It lies northeast ofSaba andSt Eustatius, and north ofSt Kitts. Several smaller uninhabited islands lie offshore, the largest of which areÎle Fourchue, Île Coco,Île Chevreau (Île Bonhomme),Île Frégate,Île Toc Vers,Île Tortue, Roche Plate (Table à Diable) and Mancel ou la Poule et les Poussins. There are numerous smaller islets, such as La Petite Islette, L'Îlet au Vent, Île Pelé, Île le Boulanger, Roche le Bœuf, Île Petit Jean, L'Âne Rouge, Les Gros Islets, La Baleine des Gros Islets, Pain de Sucre, Les Baleines du Pain de Sucre, Fourmis, Les Petit Saints, Roches Roubes, Les Baleines de Grand Fond and Les Grenadins.[27]
St. Barthélemy forms, with St. Martin, Anguilla, andDog Island, a distinct group that lies upon the western edge of a flat bank of soundings composed chiefly of shells, sand, and coral. From St. Barthélemy, the bank extends east-southeast, ending in a small tongue or spit. It is separated from the main bank by a narrow length of deep water. East of the island, the edge of the bank lies 22 kilometres (14 miles) away.[27]
Grande Saline Bay provides temporary anchorage for small vessels while Colombier Bay, to the northwest, has a 4 fathoms patch near mid-entrance. In the bight of St. Jean Bay, there is a narrow cut through the reef.[27] The north and east sides of the island are fringed, to a short distance from the shore, by a visible coral reef. Reefs are mostly in shallow waters and are clearly visible. The coastal areas abound with beaches and many of these have offshore reefs, some of which are part of a marine reserve.[24]
The marine reserve, founded in 1999, covers more than 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of protected and vulnerable habitats, bays, and islands, and includes a zone that is restricted to scientific observations only.[28] As the sea surrounding the St. Barthélemy is rich in coral reefs and other precious marine life, the area has been declared a protected area since 1996. Environmental awareness is quite pronounced in St. Barthélemy and is promoted by the Environmental Commission.[16]: 3
There are as many as 22 public beaches (most beaches on St. Barthélémy are known as "Anse de...") of which 15 are considered suitable for swimming. They are categorized and divided into two groups, the leeward side (calm waters protected by the island itself) and the windward side (some of which are protected by hills and reefs). Windward beaches are popular for windsurfing. The beach of St Jean is suitable for water sports and facilities have been created for that purpose. The long beach at Lorient has shade and is a quiet beach as compared to St. Jean.[16]: 177–178
Grand-cul-de-sac is a long beach with facilities for water sports. Anse de Flamands is a very wide sandy beach and Le petit Anse (The little beach), just to the north of Anse de Flamands is very safe and popular with the locals for their children. Anse Toiny beach is in a remote location and is considered suitable for experienced surfers as the water current is very strong.[16]: 177–178
On the leeward side, the notable beaches are Anse du Gouverneur, Anse du Colombier which is only accessible by foot or by boat, Anse de Grand Galet (Shell Beach), and Anse de Grande Saline which is popular with nudists. The area around the salt ponds near the Anse de Grande Saline beach is marshy and is a habitat for tropical birds. Ile islet, an offshoot of the leeward side, has a white sandy beach.[16]: 177–178
Shell Beach, also called Anse de Grand Galet (in French, 'Anse' means "cove" and Galet means "pebble"), is a beach in the southwestern part of Gustavia. A large number of sea shells are scattered on this beach. This beach was subject to the strong waves of hurricaneLenny in 1999, which resulted in the erosion of the sand. This necessitated supplementing the beach with new sand in 2000.[16]: 170–173
On the north coast, on the far eastern side of the island, there are two lagoons called the Anse de Marigot[verification needed] and Anse du Grand Cul-de-Sac.[16]: 170–173
Morne de Vitet, 286 metres (938 feet) in height, is the highest peak on the island.[8] Hills and valleys of varying topography cover the rest of the island.[24] Notable are Morne Rouge, Morne Criquet, Morne de Grand Fond, Morne de Dépoudré and Morne Lurin. The largest bodies of water on the island are Étang de Saint-Jean, Grande Saline, Grand Étang, and Petit Étang.
The island covers an area of 25 square kilometres (10 sq mi). The eastern side is wetter than the western. Although the climate is essentially arid, the rainfall does average 1,000 millimetres (40 inches) annually, but with considerable variation over the terrain. Summer is from May to November, which is also the rainy season. Winter from December to April is the dry season. Sunshine is very prominent for nearly the entire year and even during the rainy season. Humidity, however, is not very high due to the winds. The average temperature is around 25 °C (77 °F) with day temperatures rising to 32 °C (90 °F). The average high and low temperatures in January are 28 °C (82 °F) and 22 °C (72 °F), respectively, while in July they are 30 °C (86 °F) and 24 °C (75 °F). The lowest night temperature recorded is 13 °C (55 °F). The Caribbean sea waters in the vicinity generally maintain a temperature of about 27 °C (81 °F).[16]: 4
As of 2017, Saint-Barthélemy had a population of 9,961.[b] Residents, known as Saint-Barthélemois, are French citizens. Most of them are descendants of the first settlers, ofBreton,Norman,Poitevin,Saintongeais andAngevin lineage. There is also a big community of Portuguese emigrants mainly from the North of Portugal, around 3000 people.[29]French is the native tongue of the population, though English is understood in most hotels and restaurants; a small population ofAnglophones has been resident in Gustavia for many years.[citation needed] The St. Barthélemy Frenchpatois is spoken by some 500–700 people in the leeward portion of the island and is superficially related toQuebec French,[30][31][32] whereasCréole French is limited to the windward side. Unlike other populations in the Caribbean, language preference between the Créole and Patois is geographically, and not racially, determined.[33][page needed]Swedish is not commonly spoken in Saint Barthélemy, despite the Swedish colonial rule.
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Gustavia (Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Gustavia)Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Lorient (Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Lorient)
The majority of the population of Saint Barthélemy areChristian; Saint Barthélemy is considered the most religiously homogeneous[38] territory in the French West Indies, with particular importance given to theCatholic Church.[38]
The territory of Saint-Barthélemy forms the parish ofOur Lady of the Assumption (Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption), which in turn depends on the diocese of Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre (diocèse de Basse-Terre et Pointe-à-Pitre) whose see is located in thecathedral of Our Lady of Guadeloupe (Notre-Dame-de-Guadeloupe).
The presbytery is located in the district of Lorient and dates from 1822. The building, including themasonry terrace, thestaircases, the outbuildings and thegardens have been protected as historic monuments of France since 28 March 2002.[39]
There are two main Catholic churches both dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption or Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption (the one in Lorient[40] and the one in Gustavia)[41] and achapel ofSt. Catherine of Siena (Chapelle de Sainte Catherine de Sienne)[42] in Colombier.[43]
Saint Barthélemy is also part of the Diocese of the North Eastern Caribbean andAruba (diocèse de la Caraïbe du Nord-Est et d'Aruba), which is under theChurch of England (Church in the Province of the West Indies) that serves a small minority on the island that is centered in the Anglican Church of Saint Bartholomew (Église anglicane de Saint-Barthélemy) built between 1853 and 1855.[44] The smallPentecostal Christian community does not have a church building of its own and therefore offers religious services at St Barth's Beach Hotel.[45]
The main religious holidays areChristmas, the day of theAssumption of theVirgin Mary (15 August),All Saints' Day (1 November) and the feast of St. Bartholomew (patron saint of the island) on 24 August.
Until 2007 the whole island of St. Barthélemy was a Frenchcommune (commune de Saint-Barthélemy), forming part ofGuadeloupe which is anoverseasrégion andoverseasdépartement of France. In 2003, the population voted through areferendum in favour of secession from Guadeloupe to form a separateoverseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer, orCOM) of France.[46]
On 7 February 2007,[47] theFrench Parliament passed a bill granting COM status to both St. Barthélemy and (separately) to the neighbouringSaint Martin. The new status took effect on 15 July 2007, when the firstterritorial council was elected, according to the law.[48] The island has a president (elected every five years), aunicameral Territorial Council of nineteen members who are elected by popular vote and serve for five-year terms, and an executive council of seven members. Elections to these councils were first held on 1 July 2007 with the most recent election in 2022.
One senator represents the island in theSenate, while a deputy jointly elected with Saint Martin represents it in theNational Assembly. St. Barthélemy became anoverseas territory of the European Union on 1 January 2012,[49] but the island's inhabitants remain French citizens with EU status holding EU passports. France is responsible for the defence of the island and as such has stationed a security force on the island comprising six policemen and thirteengendarmes (posted on a two-year term).[24]
The French State is represented by aprefect appointed by the president on the advice of theminister of the interior. As a collectivity of France, the island's national anthem isLa Marseillaise, thoughL'Hymne a St. Barthélemy is also used unofficially.[8]
The economy of the island is based on tourism and duty-free retail.[50] The official currency of St. Barthélemy is theeuro.[50]
It is estimated that thenominal GDP of Saint Barthélemy amounted to 367 million euros in 2014 (US$487 million at 2014 exchanges rates; US$411 million at Feb. 2022 exchange rates).[6] In that same year thenominal GDP per capita of Saint Barthelemy was 38,994 euros (US$51,735 at 2014 exchanges rates; US$43,626 at Feb. 2022 exchange rates),[6] which was one of the highest GDP per capita in the Caribbean, more than double the GDP per capita of the nearbyCollectivity of Saint Martin,[51] as well as 85% higher thanGuadeloupe and 19% higher thanmetropolitan France's GDP per capita in 2014.[52]
International investment and the wealth generated by tourists explain the high standard of living on the island.[50] Most of the food is imported from the United States or France.[50] Tourism attracts about 200,000 visitors every year.[50] As a result, there is a boom in housebuilding activity catering to the tourists and also to the permanent residents of the island.[citation needed]
Saint Barthélemy is renowned for its high-end villas and luxury real estate market, attracting both short-term visitors and permanent residents. Real estate agencies specialize in offering exclusive villa rentals and property sales, further enhancing the island's reputation as a luxury destination.
St. Barthélemy has about 25 hotels, most with 15 rooms or fewer; the largest has 58 rooms.[citation needed] Hotels are classified in the traditional French manner; 3 Star, 4 Star and 4 Star Luxe. Of particular note areEden Rock andCheval Blanc.Hotel Le Toiny, the most expensive hotel on the island, has 12 rooms.
Most places of accommodation are in the form of private villas, of which there are some 400 available to rent on the island.[24] The island's tourism industry, though expensive, attracts 70,000 visitors every year to its hotels and villas; another 130,000 people arrive by boat. It also attracts a labour force fromPortugal.[50] A team of analysts have analysedAirbnb's Luxe offerings in 27 of their most popular luxury locations around the world and concluded that St Barths is the top location for luxury Airbnb accommodation worldwide.[53]
Corossol is noted for its handicrafts; weaving hats and bags from palm fronds is a low-income economic activity of the Indigenous people.[54]: 590
As the terrain is generally arid, the hills have mostly poor soil and support onlycacti andsucculent plants. During the rainy season, the area turns green with vegetation and grass. The eastern part of the island is greener as it receives more rainfall. A 1994 survey has revealed several hundred indigenous species of plants including the naturalized varieties of flora; some grow in irrigated areas while the dry areas are dominated by the cacti variety.Sea grapes andpalm trees are a common sight withmangroves andshrubs surviving in the saline coastal swamps.Coconut palm was brought to the island from thePacific islands. Important plants noted on the island includeflamboyant trees,frangipanis,sabal palms,wild trumpet andManchineel trees.[16]: 7
Marine mammals are many, such asdolphins,porpoises andwhales, are seen here during the migration period from December until May.Turtles are a common sight along the coastline of the island. They are a protected species and on the endangered list. It is stated that it will take 15–50 years for this species to attain reproductive age. Though they live in the sea, the females come to the shore to lay eggs and are protected by private societies. Three species of turtles are particularly notable. These are: Theleatherback sea turtles are the largest of the type found here, sometimes measuring as much as 3 metres (10 feet) (average is about 1.5 m or 5 ft) and weighing about 450; thehawksbill turtles, are found near reefs, generally about 90 centimetres (35 inches) in diameter and weigh about 60 and their diet consists ofcrabs andsnails; and thegreen turtles,herbivores, generally about 90 centimetres (35 inches) in diameter and live amidst tall sea grasses.[24][16]: 11–12
The marine life found here consists ofanemones,urchins,sea cucumbers andeels, which all live on the reefs along withturtles,conch and many varieties of marine fishes.[16]: 181 The marine aquafauna is rich in conch, which has pearly-pink shells. Its meat is a favouritefood supplement item and their shells are a collector's item. Other species of fish that are recorded close to the shoreline in shallow waters are:sergeant majors, theblue chromis, brownchromis,surgeon fish; bluetangs andtrumpet fish. On the shore areghost crabs, which always live on the beach in small burrowed tunnels made of sand, and thehermit crabs, which live on land but lay eggs in water and which also eat garbage and sewerage. They spend some months in the sea during and after the hatching season.[16]: 13–14
Saint-Barthélemy has a marine nature reserve, known as the Reserve Naturelle[55] that covers 1,200 hectares (4.6 sq mi), and is divided into five zones all around the island to form a network of protected areas. The Reserve includes the bays of Grand Cul de Sac, Colombier, Marigot, Petit Cul de Sac, and Petite Anse as well as waters around offshore rocks such as Les Gross Islets, Pain de Sucre, Tortue, and Forchue. The Reserve is designed to protect the islands' coral reefs, seagrass, and endangered marine species including sea turtles. The Reserve has two levels of protection, the yellow zones of protection where certain non-extractive activities, like snorkeling and boating, are allowed and the red zones of high protection where most activities including SCUBA are restricted to protect or recover marine life. Anchoring is prohibited in the Reserve and mooring buoys are in place in some of the protected bays like Colombier.
As well as Gustavia, the capital of St. Barthélemy, there are many notable places and monuments on the island which testify to the island's colonial history under the Spanish, Swedish, British, and French, and now a French territory.[16]: 170–173
Gustavia is in a U-shaped cove facing the harbour on the west. The coastal arm of this cove is in apeninsula while the dockyard is on the east side.
When the British invaded the harbour town in 1744[verification needed], the town's architectural buildings were destroyed.[verification needed] Subsequently, new structures were built in the town around the harbour area[verification needed] and the Swedes had also further added to the architectural beauty of the town in 1785 with more buildings, when they had occupied the town. Earlier to their occupation, the port was known as "Carénage". The Swedes renamed it as Gustavia in honour of their kingGustav III. It was then their prime trading center. The port maintained a neutral stance since the Caribbean war was on in the 18th century. They used it as a trading post of contraband and the city ofGustavia prospered but this prosperity was short-lived.[25]
These buildings also underwent further destruction during the hurricanes and also by gutting in 1852. However, some monuments are still intact such as the residence of the then Swedish governor, now the town hall[verification needed]. The oldest colonial structure in the town is stated to be the bell tower (now without a bell) built in 1799, as part of a church (destroyed in the past), in the southeast end of the town on Rue Du Presbytere. Now, a large clock is installed in place of the bell.[16]: 170–173
The road that runs parallel to the harbour face of the sea is called the Rue de la Republique and two other roads connect to the two arms of the U-shaped bay. The city has a network of roads, inherited from the Swedish period, that are laid in a grid pattern, which are either parallel or perpendicular to the three main roads that encompass the bay.[16]: 170
Église anglicane de Gustavia, theSaint-Bartholomew Anglican Church, is an important religious building in the town built in 1855 with stones brought from St Eustatius. It is on one of the town's most elegant roads, called the Rue du Centenaire. It has a bell tower. A rock wall encircles the church.[16]: 170–173
Ancien presbytère de l'église catholique de Gustavia
Ancien presbytère de l'église catholique de Gustavia is the Catholic church built in 1822 and is a replacement of the oldest church of the same name in Lorient.[verification needed] This church also has a bell tower which is separated from the main church and which rings loud and clear.[16]: 170–173
Musée Territorial de St.-Barthélemy is a historical museum known as the "St. Barts Municipal Museum" also called the "Wall House" (musée – bibliothèque) in Gustavia, which is located on the far end of La Pointe. The museum is housed in an old stone house, a two-story building that has been refurbished. The island's history relating to the French, Swedish and British periods of occupation is well presented in the museum with photographs, maps, and paintings. Also on display are ancestral costumes, antique tools, models ofCreole houses, and ancient fishing boats. It also houses a library.[16]: 170–173 [56]
The 9-metre (30 ft) white tower of theGustavia Lighthouse was built in 1961. Situated on the crest of a hill north of the town, its focal plane is 64 metres (210 ft) above the level of the sea. It flashes every 12 seconds, white, green, or red depending on direction. The round conical tower has a single red band at the top.[57]
Among the notable structures in the town are the three forts built by the Swedes for defense purposes. One of these forts, known asFort Oscar (formerly Gustav Adolph), which overlooks the sea is located on the far side of La Pointe. However, the ruins have been replaced by a modern military building which now houses the local gendarmerie. The other fort known asFort Karl now presents very few ruins. The third fort built by the Swedes isFort Gustav, which is also seen in ruins strewn around the weather station and the Light House. The fort built in 1787 over a hill slope has ruins of ramparts, a guardhouse, a munitions depot, a wood-burning oven, and so forth.[16]: 170–173 [56]
Some of the festivals held each year in St. Barthélemy are:
The St. Barts Music Festival is held every January, usually during the 2nd and 3rd weeks.
A French Carnival in February or March held for two weeks beforeAsh Wednesday and concluding with Ash Wednesday; on Ash Wednesday a black and white parade held at Shell Beach is the occasion of a notional burning of the image of Vaval, the Carnival King.
St. Barth Film Festival, held annually at the end of April, was established in 1996, and hosts Caribbean films for five days.[60]
Victor Schoelcher Day on 21 July, honouring Schoelcher, a French parliamentarian, for his noble humanitarian act of abolishing slavery in French territory on 27 April 1848.
Fête de Saint Barthélemy, the feast day of Saint Barthélemy on 24 August, in honour of the island's patron saint. Church bells are rung, boats are blessed and a regatta is held, followed by fireworks and a public ball.
Festival of Gustavia held in August, an occasion of dragnet fishing and partying.
Some other festivals held are the Festival Gastronomique (April) and Yacht Festival (May).[61] The national holidays observed are the Bastille Day and St. Barthélemy Day (day of adoption ofFrench Constitution).[8]Feast of St Louis[verification needed] is held on 1 November when thousands of candles are lit in the evening hours, which is a public holiday.All Souls Day is observed on 2 November, and it is a public holiday.[54]: 588
The Caribbean is the birthplace ofcalypso,méringue,soca,zouk andreggae music, which significantly influence the culture.[16]: 18 The St. Barthélemy Music Festival[62] is a major international performing arts event held every year.
French cuisine,West Indian cuisine,Creole cuisine,Italian cuisine andAsian cuisine are common in St. Barthélemy. The island has over 70 restaurants serving many dishes and others are a significant number of gourmet restaurants; many of the finest restaurants are located in the hotels.[54]: 586–587 There are also several snack restaurants which the French call "les snacks" or "les petits creux" which include sandwiches, pizzas, and salads.[16]: 206 In West Indian cuisine, steamed vegetables with fresh fish is common; Creole dishes tend to be spicier[16]: 206 The island hosts gastronomic events throughout the year, with dishes such as spring roll of shrimp and bacon, fresh grilledlobster, Chinese noodle salad with coconut milk, and grilled beef fillet, etc.[63]
In the early 1990s, the island had two cooking schools: the Saint Barts Cooking School which emphasizes classical French cuisine and Cooking in Paradise which emphasizes creole cuisine.[64]
A popular legend related to St. Barthélemy is of a seafarer hooligan looking to loot Spanish ships. French pirateDaniel Montbars, who was given the epithet "Montbars the Exterminator", took shelter in St. Barthélemy during his pirate operations and hid the loot in the sandy coves at Anse du Gouverneur.[16]: 22
Rugby is a popular sport on the island. One of the major teams on the island is "Les Barracudas", named after the ferocious fish of the Caribbean. They often play teams fromAnguilla and other surrounding islands.[65]
Gustavia is also known as a haven for yachting, with many events being held there each year. These include theSt Barths Bucket Regatta, the Saint Barth's Cup and Les Voiles de St. Barth in April, and the International Regatta in May.[66] Deep sea fishing is also undertaken from the waterfront of Lorient, Flamands, and Corossol to fish fortuna,marlin,bonito,barracuda andwahoo.[16]: 180 St Barth Open Fishing tournament is held in July.[16]: 588
The Transat AG2R Race, held every alternate year, is an event that originates in Concarneau in Brittany, France, reaching St. Barthélemy. It is a boat race with boats of 10-metre (33-foot) length with a single hull and with essential safety equipment. Each boat is navigated by two sailors.Kitesurfing and other water sports have also become popular on the island in recent years, especially at Grand Cul-de-Sac beach (Baie de Grand Cul de Sac) for windy sports as kitesurfing and Saint Jean Beach (Baie de Saint Jean), Lorient, Toiny and Anse des Cayes for surfing. Tennis is also popular on the island and it has several tennis clubs, Tennis Clube de Flamboyant in Grand Cul-de-Sac, AJOE Tennis Club in Orient, and ASCO in Colombier.[16]: 183
The Swedish Marathon Race, also called theGustavialoppet, is held in December. Races of 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) are conducted when children, women, and men participate in the races.[16]: 588
Aeroport Saint Barthélemy Remy de Haenen (Gustaf III Airport) is small with a runway length of 646 meters (2,119 ft). Airport codes: SBH (IATA), TFFJ (ICAO). The airport is served by regional commercial aircraft and charters of up to 19 passengers, as well as helicopters. In 2022 the airport recorded 218,984 passengers and 44,521 aircraft movements. A traffic peak of 280 aircraft movements per day was recorded on 2 January 2022, and 323 aircraft on 2 January 2023; 58% of the passengers for destination St. Barth arrive on international commercial airlines and large private jets mainly via the neighboring islandSint Maarten'sPrincess Juliana International Airport, while 15% arrive via San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 13% via Guadeloupe. St. Barth has its own airline, St. Barth Commuter, which in addition to the scheduled and charter flight services, provides medical transport services. St. Barth Executive is a local aircraft charter operator.
Many inter-island ferry services operate regularly between St. Martin and St. Barts.[16]: 160 There are three ferry services active at the moment, one is operated by Voyager (which leaves fromMarigot) one day-trip ferry by the Edge (Leaving from Simpsons Bay) and one regular ferry service by the Great Bay Ferry fromPhilipsburg.
A weekly journal entitledJournal de St. Barth is published inFrench. ItsEnglish-language abridged version,St Barth Weekly, is published only during the winter, Reflecting the island's popularity with the rich, the high-fashion magazineL'Officiel publishes a seasonal local edition.[24]
There are two local TV broadcasters and five FM radio channels (2021). There is a 4G/LTE mobile service since 2019.[69]
Eugénie Blanchard was the world's oldest living person (114 years, 261 days) at the time of her death on 4 November 2010. She was born on St. Barthélemy and spent most of her life onCuraçao and St. Barthélemy as a Catholic nun.[71]
The French musician and actorJohnny Hallyday (1943–2017) chose to be buried on St. Barthélemy in theÉglise de Lorient parish cemetery.
^Sebastiaan Knippenberg, 'Much To Choose From: The Use and Distribution of Siliceous Stone in the Lesser Antilles' inCorinne L. Hofman, Anne van Duijvenbode (eds.),Communities in Contact: Essays in Archaeology, Ethnohistory & Ethnography of the Amerindian Circum-Caribbean (Sidestone Press, Leiden, 2011). p. 175.
^Julianne Maher, 'Fishermen, Farmers, Traders: Language and Economic History on St. Barthélemy, French West Indies' inLanguage in Society, Vol. 25, No. 3 (Sep. 1996), pp. 374–406.
^abReinhard H. Luthin, "St. Bartholomew: Sweden's Colonial and Diplomatic Adventure in the Caribbean" inThe Hispanic American Historical Review, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Aug. 1934), pp. 307–324.
^Ordinance concerning the Police of Slaves and free Coloured People. Source: 'Mémoire St Barth', Saint-Barthélemy.Memoirestbarth.com; Francine M. Mayer, and Carolyn E. Fick, "Before and After Emancipation: Slaves and Free Coloreds of Saint-Barthélemy (French West Indies) in The 19th Century."Scandinavian Journal of History 1993 18 (4): 251–273.
^« 9 octobre » (1847) Source: 'Mémoire St Barth', Saint-Barthélemy.Memoirestbarth.com(in French).
^Staff reporter (9 December 2003)."French Caribbean voters reject change". Caribbean Net News. Archived fromthe original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved9 February 2007.However voters on the two tiny French dependencies of Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, which have been administratively attached to Guadeloupe, approved the referendum and are set to acquire the new status of "overseas collectivity".
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