Gustavia: the little Swedish luxury of the Caribbean

The only former Swedish colony in the Caribbean, Gustavia still bears the name of the Swedish king who governed it for a century, before returning to France and becoming an exclusive celebrity destination.

The small centre, still bearing the Swedish name of Gustavia, is easily explored on foot between luxury boutiques.

The Town Hall of Gustavia, former residence of the Swedish governor, recalls through its architecture the century of Scandinavian rule over the island, from 1784 to 1878.

A short walk away, the tourist port fills its wharves with luxury yachts, especially during the most exclusive New Year weeks in the Caribbean, among the most expensive in the world.

Continuing, you visit the small Wall House municipal museum, which displays documents and objects from the island's Swedish period.

As evening falls, high-fashion boutiques along the port close the day on one of the most expensive islands in the entire Caribbean archipelago, frequented by international celebrities.

Sweden sold the island to France in 1878 in exchange for commercial rights in Göteborg, closing a century of Scandinavian presence in the Caribbean almost forgotten by most visitors today.

The name itself of Gustavia, given in honor of Swedish King Gustav III, remains one of the few Scandinavian place names still in use throughout the Caribbean hemisphere.