A View to a Thrill A double act that is hard to beat in the rugged south of St Lucia hen architect Nick Troubetzkoy came to Saint Lucia in the early 1970s he was offered an opportunity to work with a group of fellow architects designing holiday villas on the island. What was meant to be a brief stint in paradise for the Canadian turned into a lifelong passion for the island and its people ...and of course two signature developments in the south of this verdant island facing onto one of the most beautiful views in the world.
W
Anse Chastenet Anse Chastanet encapsulates the very essence of all that’s St Lucian. You get beach, you get one of the best dive sites in the Eastern Caribbean, you get lush hillsides and you get perfect views of the Pitons. Yet you’re still within walking distance of the fishing town of Soufriere, with its markets and harbour, and just a short drive away from the rainforest in the island’s interior. The magic of Anse Chastanet is the range of activities available including a weekly jazz cruise, some of the best diving and snorkelling in St Lucia. Landside there are hiking & biking trails, tours to the resort’s organic farm and cocoa plantation. Chocoholics can watch it grow, have a sensory experience, make chocolate or just indulge in the eating! Of course there is a spa, non-motorised watersports, 2 beaches, the expert dive centre and a yacht available for day, half day and sunset sails. If there isn’t enough within the hotel to keep you busy then there are The Pitons to climb, rain forest tours, drive-in volcanoes, botanical gardens and thrilling zip line trails. This makes it an ideal choice for families with older children as well as active-minded adults of all ages. The 49 vibrantly decorated “Madras” style rooms are in charming gazebos, semi-open to the elements and individually designed by architect owner Nick Troubetzkoy, some with art treasures left by gifted guests. They range from simple gingerbread cottages with stars on the ceilings, to full-blown tree-houses that blend so well with the exotic gardens that you can’t tell immediately where tree-house ends and forest begins.
16