{{about|the town|other|Soufrière (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Soufrière |settlement_type = Town |image_skyline = Soufrière, St Lucia, 2007.jpg |imagesize = 250px |image_alt = |image_caption = Soufrière and the Pitons |motto = |image_map = Santa lucia soufriere political.png |mapsize = 250px |map_alt = |map_caption = Political map of Saint Lucia showing Soufrière |coordinates = {{coord|13.854|N|61.0592|W|region:LC_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title}} |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Saint Lucia}} |subdivision_type1 = Quarter |subdivision_name1 = Soufrière Quarter |established_title = Founded |established_date = 18th century |established_title1 = |established_date1 = |founder = France |named_for = The local volcano |leader_title = Governing body |leader_name = Soufrière Council |leader_title1 = Mayor |leader_name1 = Joan Hippolyte<ref>{{Cite news |author=Gaillard, Sharefil |title=Soufriere gets a new mayor |work=Loop News |date=13 September 2021 |url=https://stlucia.loopnews.com/content/soufriere-gets-new-mayor |access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref> |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 5 |elevation_ft = 16 |population_total = 7935 (Soufrière District) |population_as_of = 2005 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi= auto |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_footnotes = <ref>[http://www.stats.gov.lc Home<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |timezone1 = Eastern Caribbean Time Zone (ECT) |utc_offset1 = -4 |area_code = 758 }}

'''Soufrière''' is a town on the West Coast of Saint Lucia, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The town and the surrounding district has a population of 7,935. It was colonized by the French and was the original capital of the island.<ref name="www.stlucia.org">{{cite web|author=stlucia.org|title=History of Soufrière|url=http://www.stlucia.org/tour/history_soufriere.asp}}</ref>

==History== French colonialists built large estates in Soufrière, and their descendants still live in the area. The French Revolution of 1789 resulted in many Royalists being executed and the enslaved Africans were released from enslavement. However, Napoleon reintroduced slavery when he came to power.

The British invaded St Lucia shortly afterwards, but the enslaved Africans and French deserters fought them in a guerrilla campaign until 1803 when they were defeated and St Lucia became a British colony. Also, during that time, Castries became the capital of St Lucia.

Over the years, Soufrière has had to deal with hurricanes in 1780, 1817, 1831, 1898 and 1980, a major fire in 1955 and an earthquake in 1991. Many of these events have resulted in the town being rebuilt.

Soufrière inhabitants have included the future Empress of France Joséphine de Beauharnais (who spent much of her childhood in the area),{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} and George Charles (the first Premier of St Lucia). When Queen Elizabeth II visited St Lucia in 1966, she landed at Soufrière rather than Castries.

Today, Soufrière is more dependent on tourism rather than agriculture. The Pitons are just south of the town and there are several attractions in the area. Many of the old estates are still there such as Soufrière Estate, Fond Doux Estate and Rabot Estate.

==Tourism== * The Pitons – Gros Piton and Petit Piton are two giant volcanic plugs located south of Soufrière and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. * Sulphur Springs – Soufrière is located within the caldera of the dormant Qualibou volcano and the area is geothermally active. It is marketed as a drive-through volcano, and there are numerous hot springs and fumaroles. * Soufrière Estate – also known as Diamond Estate, this is an old colonial estate that is home to a botanical garden, sulphur baths and Diamond Falls.<ref name="www.diamondstlucia.com/">{{cite web|author=Diamond Botanical Gardens|title=Diamond Botanical Gardens|url=http://www.diamondstlucia.com/}}</ref> * Fond Doux Estate – a working plantation where cacao is still processed.<ref name="http://www.fonddouxestate.com/">{{cite web|author=Fond Doux Estate|title=Fond Doux Estate|url=http://fonddouxestate.com/}}</ref> * St Lucia's Rainforest – there are several rainforest trails in the area with views, wildlife and waterfalls such as the Enbas Saut Falls.<ref name="St Lucia Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry and Fisheries">{{cite web|author=St Lucia Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry and Fisheries|title=Homepage|url=http://www.maff.egov.lc/}}</ref> * Anse Chastanet – a resort with a beach and several trails along the coast. *Volga Nature Trail - a hiking trail with views of both pitons up close with views of Sugar beach.

==In popular culture== Soufrière was the filming location for most of the 1985 film ''Water'', set on the fictional British colony of Cascara.

==Image gallery of the town of Soufrière== <gallery mode=packed> Image:Soufrière, St Lucia, 2007.jpg|Soufrière Image:PitonValley.JPG|Piton Valley, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site near Soufrière Image:Malgretout_Beach,_Saint_Lucia.jpg|Malgretoute Beach, looking north towards Soufrière Image:Catholic Church Soufriere Saint Lucia.jpg|Catholic Church and Central square, Soufrière, April 2007 Image:The Pitons at Soufriere Saint Lucia.jpg|The Pitons at Soufrière Image:Soufriere6.jpg| Soufriere Image:Bays of Saint Lucia.jpg|Soufrière Bay Image:Soufrerie_rimlight.jpg|Soufrière at night Image:Welcome To Soufriere.jpg|Welcome sign to Soufrière </gallery>

== Notable people == * Emma Hippolyte, politician and government minister<ref>{{Cite news |title=Former Gros Islet MP takes aim at Soufriere |work=St. Lucia News Online |date=28 January 2019 |url=https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/former-gros-islet-mp-takes-aim-at-soufriere/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128175510/https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/former-gros-islet-mp-takes-aim-at-soufriere/ |archive-date=28 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=Stuart, Jonathan |title=Cabinet of Ministers revealed at swearing-in ceremony |work=Loop News |date=5 August 2021 |url=https://stlucia.loopnews.com/content/cabinet-ministers-revealed-swearing-ceremony |access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref> * Yasmin K. (born 1986), pop singer

== See also == * Caribbean * Soufrière River

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Wikivoyage|Soufriere}} * [http://www.simonlaub.net/Fortunecity/Panorama/CaribbeanPanorama/SoufriereBayStLucia/SoufriereBayStLucia.htm 360degree Panorama, Soufriere Bay, St. Lucia]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soufriere, Saint Lucia}} Category:Populated coastal places in Saint Lucia Category:Towns in Saint Lucia