Gustavia (town)

Infobox Settlement
name =
official_name = Gustavia
other_name =
native_name =
nickname =
settlement_type =Town
total_type =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption = View over Gustavia


flag_size =
image_

seal_size =
image_shield =
shield_size =
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =
blank_emblem_size =


mapsize =
map_caption =


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
image_dot_

dot_mapsize =
dot_map_caption =
dot_x = |dot_y =
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =
pushpin_mapsize =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = France
subdivision_type1 = Overseas collectivity
subdivision_name1 = Saint Barthélemy
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
seat_type =
seat =
parts_type =
parts_style =
parts =
p1 =
p2 =
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Founded
established_date = 1785
area_magnitude =
unit_pref =
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 =
area_land_km2 =
area_water_km2 =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_sq_mi =
area_water_percent =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
elevation_max_m =
elevation_max_ft =
elevation_min_m =
elevation_min_ft =
population_as_of =
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total =~3,000
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone =
utc_offset =
timezone_DST =
utc_offset_DST =
coor_type =
latd=17 |latm=53 |lats=52.47 |latNS=N
longd=62 |longm=51 |longs=2.0 |longEW=W
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
website =
footnotes = Gustavia (pop. roughly 3000) is the main town of the island of St. Barthelemy (also known as Saint Barts). It was named after King Gustav III of Sweden. St. Barts was a French possession originally, and the area was called Carenage after the shelter it provided to damaged ships. Gustavia was founded after Sweden obtained the island from France in 1785 in exchange for French trading rights in Gothenburg. The island was sold back to France in 1878.

The Anglican Episcopal Church on the harborfront was built in 1855. Three forts built in the mid- to late- 17th century protected the harbor. The sites of Fort Karl, overlooking Shell Beach south of town, and Fort Gustave, at the base of the lighthouse to the north, are popular with hikers. Fort Oscar, at the tip of Gustavia Peninsula, houses the Ministry of Armed Forces. There is a museum at the end of Schoelcher Avenue on the peninsula. Gustavia has a few restaurants serving American, Italian, Swedish, French and other types of food. Most restaurants have a 10-15% service charge.

Gustavia has many high-end boutiques that are an essential source of capital for the island.

References

External links

* [http://www.c-l-a-s-h.info/comite-de-liaison-et-d-application-des-sources-historiques-menu.html Comité de Liaison et d'Application des Sources Historiques (St barth's archives & history)] fr icon
* [http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/amsudant/st-barth.htm Histoire et aménagement linguistique à Saint-Barthélemy] fr icon
* [http://www.comstbarth.fr/ Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy (Official government website)] fr icon
* [http://www.st-barths.com/gustavia.html St-Barths.com page]