Fort Charlotte

Fort Charlotte was built from 1787 on a rise west of Nassau, named for the wife of George III, and it is the largest fortification in the Bahamas: three sections, a dry moat cut into the rock, drawbridge, powder magazines, dungeons and a network of underground passages, with cannon facing the harbour approach. It cost far more than was budgeted, which caused a scandal at the time, and in the whole of its history not a shot was ever fired from it in anger. Guides take visitors through the passages and the dungeons, where the restraints on display make the point about who the fort was also used to hold. The view over Nassau harbour is the best in the city.

The main sights

• The dry moat and drawbridge - cut into the rock around the fort.
• The underground passages - tunnels and magazines beneath the walls.
• The dungeons - with restraints and cells on display.
• The harbour view - over Nassau and the cruise port.

When to go

December to May is the dry season. Mornings are cooler on the exposed ramparts. Cruise days bring groups through the middle of the day. Guided tours run continuously and are the only way into the passages.

Practical notes

Access to the interesting parts is by guide only, and guides work largely for tips, which are pressed for firmly at the end. There is little shade on the ramparts. The presentation is thin and much of the fort is empty stone. Getting here means a taxi or bus from downtown.

Nearby

Nassau's downtown is fifteen minutes east; Cable Beach is west.

Key facts