Basseterre is probably one of the most pleasing capitals to the eye in the Caribbean. Basseterre's Historic District, towards the centre of the town exhibits excellent examples of Creole and West Indian architecture. Basseterre has been around for some time; French Basseterre was a flourishing and much respected town back in 1672 leading an English visitor to remark that Basseterre was a 'town of good bigness, whose houses are well-built of Bricks, Freestone and Timber; where merchants have their storehouses, and is well inhabited by tradesmen and are well served with such commodities, both for back and belly, together with utensils for the houses and Plantations...'. By the end of the 18th Century Basseterre had grown in size and boasted (including the village of Irish Town) a population of 3000 and some 800 houses. Devastating city fires since then, though, forced much of the town to be rebuilt. It has, happily, been faithfully restored to indigenous styles even up to the new Government Headquarters and the Courthouse. A walk through Independence Square, The Circus and Liverpool Row shows excellent examples of public, commercial and residential styles.