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Although Columbus discovered St. Barthelemy in 1493 (and promptly named for his brother), the French were the first to settle the country 150 years later. After selling the island to the Swedes for 100 years, St. Barth’s returned to French control in 1878. The 8 square miles is now a French overseas collective, with a mix of French, West Indies and Swedish influences. Although the island is home to only 7,000 people, they enjoy 20 beaches and see nearly 200,000 visitors a year, two-thirds of which arrive by cruise ship.
For more information on St. Barth’s, check out the non-official tourism websites such as St-Barths.com
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| Currency: |
| Euro, although the United States dollar is often used |
| When to go: |
| January through March |
| Known for: |
| Duty free, luxury travel |
| Languages: |
| French (primary), English |
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