SAINT LUCIA BUCKET LIST: 21 Best Things To Do in St Lucia
Author: Ursula Petula Barzey
Site: https://www.caribbeanandco.com
Pigeon Island is one of my favorite tourist attractions in St Lucia. Located off the northwest coast of Saint Lucia near Gros Islet, the 44-acre national landmark has a colorful history, and it draws you in with panoramic views of the ocean and Rodney Bay; plus, there is a wide range of activities that will appeal to outdoorsy and adventurous travelers. But before listing out the top things to do at Pigeon Island in St Lucia, now officially named Pigeon Island National Landmark, it is important to provide insight into the history of the island.
History of Pigeon Island in St Lucia
Castilian navigator Juan de la Cosa passed by Saint Lucia and Pigeon Island during his 1499 voyage and recorded the sighting on his world map of 1500. However, long before European explorers became aware of Pigeon Island, Amerindians who migrated from South America were the first people to spot and settle on the island. In fact, Amerindian artifacts dating back to 1000 A.D. are located on Pigeon Island in St Lucia. The Arawaks were the first, but they were driven out by the Caribs, who are thought to have lived in caves along the shore of the island, fishing and hunting for small animals and birds to survive.
Then starting in the 16th century, Pigeon Island was used as a hideout by pirate gangs who could see approaching ships long before they saw them. The most famous pirate gang with 300+ men making Pigeon Island in St Lucia their hideout was led by a Frenchman, Francois le Clerc, known as Le Capitaine Jambe de Bois because of his wooden leg.
The pirate gangs on Pigeon Islands were followed by European colonizers, with both the French and British establishing settlements on Saint Lucia, and at the signing of the Treaty of Breda in 1667, French sovereignty was recognized. However, for 150 years that ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1814, control of Saint Lucia and Pigeon Island changed fourteen times. Seven times for the French and seven times for the British, who were the ultimate victors and who actually built Fort Rodney along with the other military facilities on Pigeon Island starting in 1778.
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