Elmina Castle, Portuguese colonial fort in Elmina, Ghana.
Elmina Castle is a white stone complex on a narrow promontory between the Atlantic and the Benya River in Ghana, with high walls and several towers to protect the garrison. Narrow passageways connect the rooms inside, while the upper floors offer views of the ocean and riverbank.
Traders from Portugal erected the complex in 1482 as the first European structure south of the Sahara, originally intended for gold trade. Later it changed hands several times between the Dutch and British and was used for slave trade from the 17th century onward.
Walking through the old complex, visitors recognize names that former occupiers wrote on walls, along with inscriptions and crosses visible on the stonework. The chapel in the courtyard was built for the garrison and served only the Europeans, while prisoners in the floors below never saw daylight.
Visits take place daily from 9 AM to 4:30 PM and lead through basement rooms, cells, and the historic door of no return. The tour lasts about an hour, with sturdy footwear recommended due to uneven flooring.
Next to the main rooms lie small chambers that once served as storage for trade goods and still show their original stone arches today. Visitors often notice that the walls have different thicknesses, depending on whether they face the sea or the land.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
