Apartment, golf
APARTMENTSPENTHOUSESISLAND SANCTUARY VILLASMARINA APARTMENTSGOLF TOWN HOUSESGOLF VILLASBELOW MARKET VALUE10% RENT GUARANTEE FOR 2 YEARSPRICES WILL START FROM £100,000Run by 5* Hotel Company30 days free use per yearStunning MarinaTwo 18 Hole Golf Courses2 Years Free Golf Green FeesOwn BeachExclusive SpaThe Island SanctuaryShops and RestaurantsThe land of the Marquis Estate had been held in a private family estate for the past 200 years and it is a privilege to be able to offer this great opportunity to you.As we are still in the planning stages, we are only pre launching this development to give you the opportunity to reserve now and get the best choice when we officially launch next year. You will be buying a place in the queue and the customer that reserves first gets the first pick of all the units and the 2nd gets the next pick and so on and so on. This could be said to be one of the best deals out there and the opportunity to earn the greatest amount of capital growth.Please be aware that this will solely be dealt with on a first come, first served basis and your name will only be put on the list once we have received a £5,000 reservation fee. Do not forget you can now pay by credit or debit card so please phone the office with your credit card details and get the signed reservation form in to take up this great opportunity.This £5,000 deposit is refundable if you are not happy with your property. All properties will be well below market value as is our usual practice.MARQUIS ESTATE PRE-LAUNCH* Reservation fee is refundable, but NOT transferable* Fees: £5,000 per unit up to the value of £500,000; £10,000 per unit over £500,000* Customers can cancel at any time* The balance of the deposit will be due 45 days after the date of general release - less reservation fee* Developer does not pay the monthly interest payments on the reservation fee* Reservation fee(s) must be paid in full for each individual unit - part payments will not be accepted* Reservations are based on first come - first served policy. Reservations are only valid once Developer have received the full reservation fee(s)* There will not be a site plan or draft contract available until general release in summer 2008* As the development is in its early stages, no prices are yet available* Once released, customers can cancel and receive a refund if not fully satisfied* Developer Guarantees price will increase 45 days after general launch and then again after a further 45 days* No information other than the land address will be available* All units will be below market value* All major credit cards acceptedTHE AREA OF THE DEVELOPMENTSt Lucia?s largest estate is located just outside of Castries, the Marquis Estate is a 600 acre plantation that dates back to 1723.Part of the Marquis Estates beauty is found in its original volcanic creation. According to studies, the Marquis area would have been among the first parts of the island to be formed. 70 million years of weathering has created a lush, dramatic landscape of mountain ridges, gentle slope and the wide graceful river valley.The North West of St Lucia is steeped in history. The family of Empress Josephine, Napoleon?s first empress, once owned the plantation Paix Bouche just along the ridge southwest of Marquis; St Lucians claim that the first Empress of the French was actually born there and not Martinique. A civil engineer by trade, the Baron de Laborie became Governor General of the island in 1784. In an island wide campaign he restored and improved much of the island?s infrastructure. A portion of the old French Road ran across the Marquis Estate, remnants of stone walls still remain.The settlement of Dauphin, the bay north of Marquis, was one of great importance during this time and for a short time was the seat of government. It was blessed with the island?s only stone church and a fort was built on the point of the Babonneau Ridge to protect both the Dauphin and Marquis Bays.The Marquis estate was at one time well established as one of the largest sugar estates on the island, it?s success was partly due to the river which allowed easy powering of the sugar mill by waterwheel, also the bays wide mouth, the widest on the island allowed easy access for the exports of sugar and Marquis rum.The old plantation home sits atop a hillside with a sweeping view along the fields of the river valley and down to the Marquis Bay. In more recent years, these fields were flowing with the broad leaves of the banana plants. Harry Atkinson, the foremost St Lucian authority on bananas, managed and cultivated the estate. During the 1980?s, the Marquis Estate was the largest banana producing estate on the island.HISTORYSt Lucia lies 21 miles south of its nearest neighbour, Martinique, 24 miles north of St Vincent and 100 miles northwest of Barbados. The 238 square mile island is the second largest of the Windward island chain, a sub-group of islands within the West Indies.The first European to settle in St Lucia was Francois Le Clerc, known as Jambe de Bois or wooden leg. He was a pirate who set himself up on Pidgeon Island from where he attacked passing Spanish vessels. The English first landed in 1605, having been blow off course on their way to Guayana. 67 setlers landed and bought huts from the Kalingo, also known as the Caribs, who were supreme rulers of the Windward Islands. One month later only 19 were left and were forced to flee from the Caribs by canoe.The French arrived in 1651 when representatives of the French West Indies Company bought the island. Eight years later, ownership disputes between the French and English ignited hostilities that would endure for 150 years. During this time the island changed hands 14 times. St Lucia was finally ceded to the British in 1814.In 1842, English became the islands official language but St Lucia remains a strong French heritage. The majority of the island?s village and town names are French, and with the Creole language of American, African and European roots still widely spoken.St Lucia?s economic base has traditionally been agricultural. Sugar, the first mono crop was eventually abandoned in the 1950?s, when bananas became the largest export crop. However, over the last few years privileges enjoyed by the West Indian banana export industry have ended, and St Lucia had to diversify into other areas to survive economically. Tourism is now the most important foreign exchange. St Lucia is also one of the biggest transhipment points in the Eastern Caribbean. The colonial motto ?statio haud malefidia carinis? - ?safe haven for ships?, still applies today.Lush and tropical, St Lucia demands to be explored to the fullest. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world can be seen in this one small island, with rainforest, majestic peaks, picturesque fishing villages, gracious town squares and beautiful beaches; it?s no wonder that so many Hollywood films have been made here, including Dr Doolittle, Superman and Water.Since February 22 1979, St Lucia has been an independent state within the British Commonwealth. After independence, Castries the largest city on the island became the capital. The main port is a popular cruise-ship destination and a haven for yachtsmen. In 1883, the coal industry was introduced to St Lucia and Castries became one of the West Indies? leading coal ports until 1920. Although Castries is a fairly modern city, there are numerous historic landmarks and colonial buildings decorated with graceful balconies and intricate latticework.The island?s government is led by resident Governor-General, Her Excellency Dame Dr Pearlette Louisy , who is designated by the Queen.The old French capital Soufriere is quite a contrast to Castries. Founded in 1746, it is surprisingly out of step with modern times. Local fishermen still put out to sea from the sleepy port, casting their nets from the same kind of dugout canoes their ancestors used generations ago. The main square is surrounded by French colonial architecture, a little church facing the Caribbean dominates the plaza. Soufriere actually sits in what was once a volcanic crater.Mount Soufriere, a dormant volcano since 1780 is known as the 'drive-in' volcano because it is actually possible to drive into its crater. The natural sulphur springs are said to have therapeutic properties and people bathe in the waters.South of Sestriere the national symbol of St Lucia, the pitons, loom on the horizon dwarfing everything around them. The twin volcanic cones rise to heights of 2.619 and 2,460 ft. The French names were given to distinguish them; Gross for the higher and Petit for the smaller, they are separated by a mile long artificial beach.