Fort Christiansborg, UNESCO, Accra, Ghana
Ghana’s castles, forts and lodges date back to the fifteenth century. Between 1482 and 1786, Europeans constructed approximately 80 castles, forts and lodges stretching along the 400-mile coastline between Keta and Beyin, formerly and notoriously known as the “Coast of Guinea” and “White Man’s Grave”. For several centuries, Portuguese, Dutch, French, Swedes, Brandenburg-Prussians, Danes and English and Africans lived and worked at these sites.
They built a fair sized stone fort and named it Fort Christiansborg or Christian’s Fortress, after the King of Denmark, Christian IV. Over time, it was enlarged and converted from a fort into a castle so as to provide more storage and living space, as well as meeting the need for stronger defenses to compete with the Dutch and English coastal trade. In 1685, Christiansborg Castle became the new Danish headquarters.
Epic Ghana Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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