brimstone hill fortress

The major man-made attraction in St Kitts is the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, known as the Gibraltar of the West Indies. This remarkable fortress is one of the most dramatic spots in the entire Caribbean, both historically and aesthetically.

It’s a fascinating place to visit, perched some 800 feet above the coast – with steep and precipitous slopes which had to be tamed by the disciplines of engineering and architecture, and at the risk and probable loss of human lives – so make sure you travel on four wheels unless you enjoy very steep hillside climbs! The fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been beautifully maintained in recent years.

Using slave labour, the British military started construction in 1690 when St Kitts was still being fought over with the French.

Walls are up to seven feet thick and the whole edifice offers spectacular coastal views below.

There’s an instructive audio-visual introduction to The Fort George Museum and lots of rooms that have been re-created to show sleeping quarters, kitchens, storerooms, latrines etc.

Brimstone Hill Fortress is but one attraction dotted around St Kitts making it the perfect place for Caribbean real estate. Other attractions include Black Rocks, Bloody Point, Old Road Town, the Carib Indian Petroglyphs near Romney Manor and Belmont Estate.