San Cristóbal fortress, Colonial fortification on San Cristóbal hill in Gracias, Honduras

San Cristóbal fortress is a stone hilltop fortification on the western edge of Gracias, Honduras, built with thick defensive walls, several watchtowers, and a central command building. The elevated position gives a wide view over the valley and the surrounding hills.

The first Spanish building on the San Cristóbal hill dates from the 17th century; two cannons bearing the emblem of Carlos IV of Spain survive from it. In 1850 Juan Lindo ordered the fort rebuilt for fear of an invasion from Guatemala, but work on the present fort only began in 1863 and was completed between 1875 and 1876 under José María Medina. It served to defend Gracias from its strategic hilltop, and in 1959 rebel officers of the Third Military Zone used it as a defensive bastion.

The tomb of Juan Lindo, president of Honduras and later of El Salvador, lies inside the fortress. Its commemorative plaque reads: "You can be a hated ruler of your time, but if you want the vote of future generations to favor you, open schools! Juan Lindo."

The fort stands on a small hill above the city, reached on foot from the centre of Gracias. The site is open to national and foreign visitors. The walls are painted white and the towers, command post, powder magazine and hospital are laid out around a central area, so allow time to walk the perimeter.

Two cannons from the original Spanish colonial fort are still on the grounds, each marked with royal emblems from that period. They were kept in place when the new structure was built in the 1800s, so they predate the current walls by several centuries.