Castillo de Fuste: A Historic Defensive Tower in Fuerteventura, Spain
Visitor Information
Google Rating: 4.3
Popularity: Low
Official Website: descubrefuerteventura.com
Country: Spain
Civilization: Early Modern
Site type: Military
Remains: Castle
History
The Castillo de Fuste is a defensive tower located in the municipality of Antigua in Spain. It was constructed by Spanish military engineers to protect the island of Fuerteventura from external threats.
Before the early 1700s, the coast of Fuerteventura had no fortifications, making it vulnerable to frequent raids by pirates from Berber, English, and French groups. To address this threat, Andrés Bonito y Pignatelli, who served as the commander general of the Canary Islands, commissioned the military engineer Claudio de L’Isle to design and build defensive structures on the island. Among these was the Castillo de Fuste, constructed to safeguard the important bay of Caleta de Fuste, which was one of the island’s key ports.
Initially, the castle’s walls measured about three meters thick. However, after suffering damage from cannon fire during an attack by pirates, the walls were reinforced and nearly doubled in thickness to about six meters. These improvements enhanced the castle’s ability to withstand assaults and protect the surrounding area.
By the 19th century, the castle’s military value had declined, leading to its transition into private ownership. In the early 1980s, developments around the site included the construction of a tourist complex, incorporating modern amenities such as swimming pools near the structure. Later, in 2013, restoration efforts led by the local island council and municipality took place to preserve the castle and prepare it for public access.
Remains
The Castillo de Fuste features a circular layout spanning two levels, characteristic of military towers designed for coastal defense in the Canary Islands. Its interior is notable for a vaulted ceiling supported by a substantial central pillar, an architectural solution that provided structural stability and helped support the weight above.
Entry into the tower is gained through a masonry staircase leading to a doorway equipped with a drawbridge operated by iron chains. This mechanism allowed defenders to control access and enhance security against attackers.
Originally, the castle was outfitted with two small-caliber iron cannons, manned by a military garrison responsible for monitoring and defending the bay. The tower’s design and construction closely resemble other notable Canary Island fortifications, such as the Torre de San Andrés in Tenerife, the towers of Gando and San Pedro in Gran Canaria, the Castillo de El Cotillo also on Fuerteventura, and the Torre del Águila in Lanzarote, emphasizing a regional architectural tradition for coastal defense.
Situated approximately seven meters above sea level on the coast near Caleta de Fuste, the castle occupies a strategic position overlooking access to one of the island’s principal ports. Today, the structure has undergone restoration, preserving its fundamental features and ensuring its continued presence as a landmark of the island’s historical defenses.
