Blackbeard's Castle

The tower on Government Hill was built by the Danes in 1679 as a watchtower to guard the harbour approach, and it is one of the oldest surviving structures on St Thomas - Fort Christian on the waterfront below, begun in 1672, is older still. The name attached to it in the twentieth century for tourist purposes: there is no evidence that Edward Teach ever used it, or indeed was ever in Charlotte Amalie in any meaningful way. What it does have is the view, over the harbour and the town's red roofs, and a cluster of restored eighteenth and nineteenth-century houses around it including Villa Notman and Britannia House, some of which have operated as a small museum complex with pirate statuary.

What you actually see

• The 1679 tower - among the oldest structures on St Thomas.
• The harbour view - over Charlotte Amalie and the cruise berths.
• The restored houses - Danish-era villas on Government Hill.
• The 99 Steps - the stepped street climbing to it from town.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the cruise season. The site has opened and closed repeatedly over the years depending on ownership and hurricane damage, so check before climbing the hill. Mornings are cooler for the steps.

Honest expectations

The Blackbeard connection is an invention and the pirate statuary reflects that. The complex has been closed for long periods, including after the 2017 hurricanes and through changes of ownership, and reopening has been intermittent; assume you may find the gate shut. The climb from town is steep in the heat.

Nearby

The 99 Steps are directly below; the synagogue and town are a few minutes' walk.