Fort of Rostrogordo

Fort Rostrogordo is a military stronghold with a trapezoidal floor plan situated on a plateau north of Melilla. The structure features an interior courtyard, various rooms, connecting ramways, and elevated gun positions positioned to defend the surrounding terrain.

The fort was built between 1888 and 1890 to defend the Spanish enclave against Rif resistance groups. Later it served as a military detention facility before undergoing transformation into a public park.

The fort embodies the military architectural style that Spain favored at its North African frontier in the 1800s. Today, visitors can observe the gun emplacements and fortified positions that reveal how Spain projected power over this border region.

The fort sits roughly 3 kilometers north of central Melilla and is now integrated into the El Fuerte Leisure and Sports Park. Visitors can reach it comfortably and navigate its multiple levels thanks to the connecting ramways and restored pathways.

The fort occupies a plateau 132 meters above sea level right near the Morocco border, surrounded by a pine forest. This elevated position provided tactical advantage for defense while also hosting an uncommon woodland environment for such an arid location.