Reefs are mostly in shallow waters and are clearly visible. [5] 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. [22], Grande Saline Bay provides temporary anchorage for small vessels while Colombier Bay, to the northwest, has a 4 fathoms patch near mid-entrance. New Year's Eve is the event of the year in St Barts, when the island is visited by hundreds of luxury yachts, … 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 in order to protect or recover marine life. There are many pharmacies dispensing medicines. January through March are the coldest months, with an average high of 84°F (29°C). Saint Barth is the ultimate showcase for the most desirable lifestyles in the world. Saint Barthélemy , officially the French: Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy, is an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean. As well as Gustavia, the capital of St. Barthélemy, there are many notable places and monuments in the island which testify to the island's colonial history under the Spanish, Swedish, British and French, and now a French territory.[26]. [citation needed] Hotels are classified in the traditional French manner; 3 Star, 4 Star and 4 Star Luxe. Sea grapes and palm trees are a common sight with mangroves and shrubs surviving in the saline coastal swamps. Search our St Barts real estate listings and discover the finest property for sale in St Barts - The distinctly French island which has become synonymous with glamour and sophistication, … [26], 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. [20], There is no local TV broadcasting station. Source: 'Mémoire St Barth', Saint-Barthélemy. An Arawak Indian is standing on a rock, which seen from above is in the shape of the … The St. Barts Music Festival held every January, usually during the 2nd and 3rd weeks. [8] Sporadic visits continued for the next hundred years until formal colonisation began taking shape. [11] The island of Saint Barthélemy became an Overseas Collectivity (COM). In … Travel + Leisure is a trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group, registered in the United States and other countries. The eastern part of the island is greener as it receives more rainfall. Five years later, it was bought by the French West India Company along with the Order's other possessions in the Caribbean. [66] Deep sea fishing is also undertaken from the waterfront of Lorient, Flamands and Corossol to fish for tuna, marlin, bonito, barracuda and wahoo. Winter from December to April is the dry season. St Barts is unquestionably the sexiest island in the Caribbean and has inimitable French style. However, the island has three FM radio channels, out of which two operate via repeaters. Ile islet, an offshoot of the leeward side, has a white sandy beach. [8] Most places of accommodation are in the form of private villas, of which there are some 400 available to rent on the island. Saint Barthélemy, a volcanic island fully encircled by shallow reefs, has an area of 25 square kilometres (9.7 sq mi)[2] and a population of about 10,000. [8][11] By 1674, the company was dissolved and the islands became part of the French Kingdom and added to the colony of Guadeloupe. [37] Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. A 1994 survey has revealed several hundred indigenous species of plants including the naturalized varieties of flora; some growing in irrigated areas while the dry areas are dominated by the cacti variety. June through September are the hottest months, with an average high of 90°F (32°C). There is no public transportation on the island. [37] Most of the food is imported from the United States or France. As a collectivity of France, the island's national anthem is La Marseillaise, though L'Hymne a St. Barthélemy is also used unofficially. Another option: fly Tradewinds Aviation from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Now, a large clock is installed in place of the bell. [8][11] Thus deeming it to be of little worth, King Louis XVI traded the island to Sweden in 1784 in return for trading privileges in Gothenburg. The eastern side is wetter than the western. The island sustained damage from Hurricane Irma in September 2017 but recovered quickly, and by early 2018 transport and electricity were largely operational. 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. [5] Hills and valleys of varying topography cover the rest of the island. The museum is housed in an old stone house, a two-storey building which has been refurbished. Sunshine is very prominent for nearly the entire year and even during the rainy season. [58] The St. Barthélemy Music Festival[59] is a major international performing arts event held every year. The coastal areas abound with beaches and many of these have offshore reefs, some of which are part of a marine reserve. 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. The area around the salt ponds near the Anse de Grande Saline beach is marshy and is a habitat for tropical birds. From everything that you might have heard about St. Bart’s, you’d half expect a red velvet rope to be strung up at the airport. The island was formed by a volcano and is only 8 square miles—just a little bigger than LAX! In the bight of St. Jean Bay there is a narrow cut through the reef. Some of the festivals held each year in St. Barthélemy are: Some other festivals held are the Festival Gastronomique (April) and Yacht Festival (May). Barts. [20][44], Avifauna in the wild, both native and migrating include brown pelican along the shore line, magnificent frigatebirds with long wingspans of up to 1.8 metres (6'), green herons, snowy egrets, belted kingfishers; bananaquits; broad-winged hawks; two species of hummingbirds, the green-throated carib and Antillean crested hummingbird; and zenaida doves. of them in total, … St. Barthélemy is separated from Saint Martin by the Saint-Barthélemy Channel. The language, cuisine, and culture, however, are distinctly French. November through June is the best time to visit St. Bart's. The Caribbean, the birthplace of the calypso, méringue, soca, zouk and reggae music influence the culture tremendously. © 2018 Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group. [20], 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. Although St. Barts is a small island, it does have an airport located just five minutes drive from Gustavia, Rémy-de-Haenen (SBH), where commercial and private connections land from St. … Festival of Gustavia held in August, an occasion of dragnet fishing and partying. The round conical tower has a single red band at the top. They used it as trading post of contraband and the city of Gustavia prospered but this prosperity was short lived. The height of tourism is New Year's Eve, with celebrities and the wealthy converging on the island in yachts up to 170 metres (550 feet) in length for the occasion. Find the perfect hotel within your budget with reviews from real travelers. [71][verification needed], A weekly journal entitled Journal de St. Barth is published in the French language. A rock wall encircles the church. In addition to St Barts activities and Saint Barthelemy sightseeing, the island offers St Barths events throughout the year not to be missed and sometimes to be booked. 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