St Lucia has a mix of English, French, African and Caribbean cultural influences. For instance, if you walk into the Catholic cathedral in the capital, Castries, you'll find a building of French design, an interior richly painted in bright African-inspired colors, portraits of a black Madonna and child, and church services delivered in English.

Derek Walcott, the renowned Caribbean poet and playwright and winner of the 1992 Nobel Prize for Literature, is a native of St Lucia. Walcott, who teaches overseas, still maintains his connections with the island and is spearheading a movement to renovate the buildings on Rat Island, a former quarantine station off Choc Beach. There are plans to turn the buildings into a retreat for writers and artists.

Another Nobel laureate with island connections is former Princeton University professor Sir Arthur Lewis (1915-91), who was born in Castries but educated in England. He developed what became known as the 'Lewis Model,' which explores the transition developing countries experience as they move from an agrarian to an industrial economy. Lewis received the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1979.

Foreign filmmakers have been captivated by St Lucia's scenic landscape, which makes a guest appearance in movies such as Doctor Doolittle and Superman II.

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Summary|Culture|History
Castries|Pigeon Island National Park|Rodney Bay