“World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity… World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.” – WHC website. 

The Caribbean is home to 16 cultural and nine natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites spread over 14 territories. These sites speak to the history, culture, and development of the region, and its outstanding natural beauty. 

Let’s get to know the Caribbean’s World Heritage Sites – Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison.

— 

The Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison in Barbados joined the elite list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in June 2011.

According to the UNESCO website, the site is “an outstanding example of British colonial architecture consisting of a well-preserved old town built in the 17th, 18^th, and 19th centuries, which testifies to the spread of Great Britain’s Atlantic colonial empire. 

“The property also includes a nearby military garrison which consists of numerous historic buildings. With its serpentine urban lay-out the property testifies to a different approach to colonial town-planning compared to the Spanish and Dutch colonial cities of the region which were built along a grid plan.”

Bridgetown and the Garrison contain several buildings of interest with historic value. One of the main ones is the island’s parliament buildings which were erected between 1870 and 1874. They were designed in a neo-gothic style and constructed out of local coral-limestone which makes them particularly eye-catching and picturesque.

Another attraction within the UNESCO zone is George Washington House. This property is where the first President of the United States spent two months living in Barbados when he was 19 years old. The Georgian house has been fully restored and is open to the public to enjoy.

The Barbados Museum and Historical Society is also a ‘must-visit’ location within the environs of the Garrison. This building was originally a 19th-century military prison constructed by the British between 1817 and 1853. It became home to the Barbados Museum in 1930.

The Main Guard with its distinctive red and white clocktower is another beautiful and unique building of interest within the area. It overlooks the Garrison Savannah racecourse and features a George III Coat of Arms in Coade stone which was designed especially for this building.

Some other attractions of historic and architectural significance include St Ann’s Fort, the Pavilion, and Drill Hall.

—

If you plan to visit Barbados, we highly recommend taking a few days to explore the island’s UNESCO World Heritage Site on foot. 

Sources: UNESCO, Barbados.org, and Barbados Pocket Guide. 

Related content: Caribbean World Heritage Sites – Morne Trois Pitons National Park in Dominica