Blackbeard’s Castle
Blackbeard’s Castle
Blackbeard’s Castle (Lille Taarne Gade, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas) – this “castle” (a.k.a. Skytsborg Tower) was actually built by the Danish around 1674-1680 as a watch tower for guarding the port of Charlotte Amalie – going back to the days when the Virgin Islands were a haven for pirates intent on raiding ships leaving the nearby Spanish colony of Puerto Rico.
It is not known what year Skytsborg Tower took on the name of Blackbeard’s Castle, but the infamous Edward Teach, commonly known as Blackbeard the Pirate, did sail the Caribbean waters in the early 1700s. It has become part of the lore of the island that he used the Tower as a vantage point for his own treacherous purposes.
These days, a walking tour for visitors is conducted from here, which takes participants to various historic sites at nearby “Blackbeard’s Hill” (such as Villa Notman – built in 1860 by Scottish engineer Robert Notman; Britannia House, and Haagensen House – built in the early 19th century by a prominent Danish businessman). Price: $10 per person. See the Blackbeard Castle website for more details: www.blackbeardscastle.com/