Castillo de Jagua, Spanish colonial fort at Cienfuegos Bay entrance, Cuba
Castillo de Jagua is a stone fortress standing at the entrance to Cienfuegos Bay, featuring several levels and a watchtower rising from its center. A wooden drawbridge still crosses the empty moat at the gate.
The fort was built in 1742 under orders from Spanish King Philip V to protect ships from pirates seeking anchorage in the bay. It served for centuries as a key defensive point against attacks from the sea.
The fort has long served as a defining landmark for the local community and shapes how people view the bay today. It stands as a symbol of colonial rule and shows how Spanish forces controlled and protected the coastline.
The fort can be reached by boat from Cienfuegos with multiple daily departures, or by taxi to the village of Pasacaballo on the shoreline. Visitors should note that boat schedules depend on tidal conditions and weather can affect accessibility.
Near the fortress lie the remains of a Soviet nuclear project that was never completed after the fall of the Soviet Union. This abandoned atomic city tells a Cold War story that remained unfinished on Cuba's coast.
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