Photo Tour of Brimstone Hill Fortress in St. Kitts

St. Christopher (St. Kitts) was the first Eastern Caribbean island permanently settled by Europeans, and it didn't take the English settlers who arrived here in 1623 long to realize the Brimstone Hill, rising 800 feet with steep slopes and possessing a commanding view of the sea, was an ideal natural defense. Work on a permanent fortress on Brimstone Hill began in the 1690s and continued for about a century as the British and French wrestled for control of the island and its valuable plantations.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Brimstone Hill Fortress today is open to visitors, who can tour the citadel individually or with local tour groups. The fort is open daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm; admission is US$8 for adults, half price for children. There is a snack bar, souvenir shop and toilet facilities on the grounds.