The fortress
Explore the citadel, barracks, and key spaces of Brimstone Hill. The architecture and
engineering of this Caribbean fortress reflect the ingenuity of its designers and the
labour of those who built it.
The citadel
The citadel sits at the highest point of the fortress. From here you get panoramic views
of the island and the Caribbean Sea. The structure was designed to be the last line of
defence and housed officers’ quarters, storage, and gun emplacements. Climbing to the
citadel is one of the highlights of a visit.
The barracks
The barracks accommodated the garrison. Today you can walk through these spaces and
imagine daily life for the soldiers stationed here. Interpretive panels and the museum
exhibitions help bring the story to life. The barracks also illustrate the construction
techniques and materials used over more than a century of building.
Bastions and ramparts
The fortress is a fine example of 17th- and 18th-century military engineering. Bastions
and ramparts were laid out to provide overlapping fields of fire and to resist attack.
The use of local stone and the adaptation to the natural shape of the hill make
Brimstone Hill a textbook example of its kind and one of the best preserved in the
Americas.
Visitor experience
A visit typically includes the visitor centre, the main barracks area, and the climb to
the citadel. Guided tours are available; see Schedule
a tour. Allow at least two to three hours to explore the site and the
museum exhibitions.