Welcome to Brimstone Hill Fortress
Location:
In the North-West part of Saint Christopher Island (Kitts).
Address:
Taylor’s Range, Basseterre, St. Kitts.
Date of construction:
17th-18th century
Area/Surface:
15 ha
Opening hours:
09.30 – 17.30
Prices:
Residents: $6
Foreign visitors: $10
Children: Half price
Telephone:
+869 465 2609
Website:
E-mail:
info@brimstonehillfortress.org
When to go:
December – March, when here is summer, the dry season. Try to avoid the winter rainy season between June – November when is a possibility of hurricanes.
How to get here:
By car:
You can get here very easy in aproximately 20 – 30 minutes either you come from Basseterre, the island’s capital or from the international airport. You just have to follow the postsigns towards Brismtone Hill Fortress National Park.
By train:
St. Kitts Scenic Railway tourist company offers unique visits on the island and the train gets you also to the fortress.
By means of transport:
The easiest way to get here is by taxi, but there are also buses with daily routes from capital Basseterre and the prices are reasonable.
By plane:
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport offers daily flights from and towards London (Gatwick), Miami, New York, Puerto Rico, Saint Thomas, Antigua, Saint Maarten, Saint Croix and others. Besides these, you can get here from every point of the world with one or two stops.
Brimstone Hill Fortress
History of Brimstone Hill Fortress:
Brimstone Hill Fortress is situated in the north-west part of Saint Christopher Island in Brimstone Hill National Park. Its first documentary attestation dates from 1690, when here were built the first defending towers for Charles Fort in vicinity. Then, for 100 years, the inhabitants built the actual fortress. During its flowering period, Brimstone Hill Fortress was known as the Gibraltar of West Indies due to the short distance from sea and the high, rocky area on which was built. Since its construction, on these territories were held almost permanently wars between British and French who wanted to occupy the island. In the end the fortress was abandoned by British people in 1853 and then until beginning of 1900, it remained abandoned. However, for several decades it was a long process of restoration and in 1985 Queen Elisabeth the 2nd declared the fortress a National Park.
Importance and tourism at Brimstone Hill Fortress:
Due to its historical, architectural and cultural importance and for the beauty of this area in which is situated, Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park was included since 1999 in UNESCO World Heritage list. It is said, that the fort was built by the African slaves from a volcanic rock from which the hill where is situated is composed. The most important aspect is that the Brimstone Hill Fortress is one of the few military buildings well preserved from centuries ago and once you get up, the view is amazing and will leave you for sure unforgotten memories. (Find more journeys on blog.worldlifetimejourneys.com) You can see from here the whole splendid island with its wooden mountains, tropical cultures, capital Basseterre situated at approximately 20 km away and you can see even other islands from Caribbean Sea.
How to get to Brimstone Hill Fortress by railway:
If you want to have a lot of fun, mixed with a high comfort and relaxation, you can choose to take a tour with St. Kitts Scenic Railway, the only option to get to the fortress by train and also to admire the island in all its splendor. You will make 48 km around the island in two parts. The first part composed by 29 km you will make by the panoramic semi-opened train in 2 hours while those 19 km left by bus back to Basseterre. The railway built between 1912 and 1926 for the transport of sugar cane, today is used in a tourist purpose. It’s important also to know that inside the fortress you can visit Fort George Museum which presents you in details the history of Brimstone Hill Fortress and here you can see also different objects well preserved inside for a few centuries.Visit Brimstone Hill Fortress!
Brimstone Hill Fortress seen from nearby
