Holetown (St. James) and the East Coast

Holetown (St. James): The monument in the center of the town gives 1605 as the founding year, but the town was actually founded in 1627. Some buildings from this period have been preserved. A 17th-century baptismal font stands in St. James ‘s, the town’s first church. The church bell bears the inscription “God bless King William, 1696”. Harrison’s Cave in St. Thomas
is worth a visit. This ghostly illuminated stalactite cave with stalagmites and stalactites is particularly impressive. A small train runs through the 1.5 km long cave. Daily opening hours: 09.00-16.00. Flower Forest

is a botanical garden in which the whole variety of the exotic Barbadian flora can be admired. Walking trails within the park grounds offer spectacular views of Chalky Mountain, Mount Hillaby and the Atlantic Ocean.

• Andyeducation: Introduction to education system in Barbados, including compulsory schooling and higher education.

On the island’s east coast in Bathsheba, the town’s pastel-hued houses seem to have grown onto the chalk cliffs that tower high above the Atlantic. The place is known for its numerous potteries and ceramics. St George’s Gun Hill was once a military observation post. Here an English soldier carved a lion into the rock face. St. George’s Church is also worth seeing(18th century) which has a beautiful altar.

Bridgetown and places to visit

Barbados was “discovered” by the Portuguese in 1536, but was then under British rule from the 17th century until independence in 1966. The capital, Bridgetown, has a particularly English feel – there’s even a miniature version of Trafalgar Square here, complete with a statue of English admiral Lord Nelson. The city is relatively small, and you can take a leisurely stroll through the main sights: Fairchild Market, St. Michael’s Cathedral (1789), the Old Synagogue, the Savannah Garrison, Queen’s Park, Belleville, Government House and the Museum of Barbados. A Rastafarian street market is held in Temple Yard.

From the parish church of St. John you have a wonderful view of the east coast. Buried in the cemetery is Ferdinando Paleologus, possibly a descendant of Byzantine emperors.

Places to visit:
Codrington College near Consett Bay, one of the oldest theological seminaries in the western hemisphere, was built in 1745.

Morgan Lewis Windmill is in the Scotland District of St Andrew. The Dutch windmill from the time of the great sugar cane plantations is very well preserved. The mill has been restored and is open to visitors.

Newcastle Coral Stone Gates: The gates at St. Joseph were built by 20th Century Fox for the film “Island in the Sun”. Stroll through the terraced Andromeda Gardens to see lush tropical plants.

Welchman Hall Gully of St Thomas is a deep gully planted with rare fruit and spice trees in the 19th century. Today this botanical garden is owned by the National Trust.
The East Coast Road, which runs along the east coast, offers breathtaking views over the crashing Atlantic waves crashing on the rocky coast.

Platinum Coast

This picture-postcard coastline with white sandy beaches and turquoise sea is also known as Millionaires Row.

Speightstown, St. Lucy and the Atlantic Seaboard

Speightstown is in northwest St. Peter. This is a typical West Indies village with wooden houses, shops, old churches and fun-loving, friendly people. The ruins of the once imposing plantation mansion, Farley Hill House, are overgrown with hibiscus flowers and poinsettias. St. Nicholas Abbey is also worth a visit. The mansion from the time of the great plantations is well preserved and impresses with its Persian round arches and the well-kept garden.

At the northernmost point of the island ( St. Lucy ) is the Animal Flower Cave. This cave was gradually washed out and formed by the sea water. The coral rocks shine here in the most diverse shades of color.

You drive along the Atlantic coast through sugar cane cultivation areas with small churches and picturesque wooden houses. There are particularly beautiful views at Crane Beach.
Sam Lord’s Castle in the south of the island, once the home of a plantation owner, now serves as a hotel and is furnished with beautiful Barbadian mahogany furniture.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is growing in importance in Barbados and opportunities for cyclists and hikers are expanding. Information, including special events, is available locally from the Barbados National Trust. Address: Wildey House, Wildey, St Michael. Tel: 436 90 33, 426 24 21. Fax: 429 90 55. (Email: natrust@sunbeach.net ; Internet: www.trust.funbarbados.com ).

The variety of biotopes on the island is impressive and worth preserving. Especially the following areas give a special impression of the Barbadian flora and fauna: mangrove swamps (Graeme Hall Swamp), wetlands, tropical rainforest and dramatic gorges (Turners Hall Woods, Jack-in-the-Box Gully, Welchman Hall Gully), limestone caves (Harrison’s Cave), cliffs, dunes (East Coast, Chancery Lane Beach), coral reefs and marine reserves (Atlantis Submarines, Barbados Marine Reserve) and wildlife life reserve.