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Udo Dengler (udo.dengler)
Canada
Gigapans: 44
Snapshots: 55
Bookmarks: 1
Last Visited: October 02, 2009
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North of Castries lies Pigeon Island National Landmark. This 44 acre site was once an island accessible only by sea. It is composed of two peaks, Fort Rodney Hill and Signal Peak. In the 1970s a sandy causeway, made of dirt excavated to form the Rodney Bay Marina, was constructed between Gros Islet and Pigeon Island, turning the island into a peninsula. In 1979 Pigeon Island was established as a national park. Today Pigeon Island is the centre stage venue for the annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival.
Pigeon Island has a spicy history dating back to the 1550s, when St Lucia’s first French settler, François le Clerc, better known as Jambe de Bois (Wooden Leg), used the island as a base for raiding passing Spanish ships. Two centuries later, British admiral George Rodney fortified Pigeon Island, using it to monitor the French fleet on Martinique. Rodney’s fleet set sail from Pigeon Island in 1782 for his most decisive military engagement, the Battle of the Saintes. With the end of hostilities between the two European rivals, the fort slipped into disuse in the 19th century, although the USA established a small signal station here during WWII.
Panorama stitched in Autopano Pro from 6 images taken handheld with Nikon D300 and a 18 mm lens.
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Signal Peak
Created: July 6, 2009
Taken From: Pigeon Island, St. Lucia
Comments: none - add a comment
Total Views: 12
For an even better view walk north past the stone foundations of the ridge battery to the top of the 359ft Signal Peak. It's about a 20-minute walk.
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Fort Rodney
Created: July 6, 2009
Taken From: Pigeon Island, St. Lucia
Comments: none - add a comment
Total Views: 21
At the top of Fort Rodney Hill, you’ll find a small but well-preserved fortress, a few rusting cannons and a spectacular view. You can see south across Rodney Bay to the rolling hills dotting the coast, and north past Pointe du Cap to Martinique.
In 1778, Admiral George Rodney, took over Pigeon island, expelled the natives and built a fort on the smaller of the two peaks. This fort is known as Fort Rodney. Rodney ordered all trees on Pigeon Island to be cut down, to increase the range of sight. From the higher peak, Signal Hill, Rodney was able to observe the French navy base on Martinique.Over the next several years, the British built several other structures on Pigeon Island, including two barracks, mess hall, and a lime vat.In 1782, Admiral Rodney sailed from Pigeon Island to confront the French fleet, which he defeated in the Battle of Saints.In 1824, a barracks which had been destroyed by a massive hurricane in 1817 was rebuilt.
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