Cape Coast Castle

About this business

Cape Coast Castle stands on Ghana’s coast as a powerful reminder of the past. Built in the 17th century, it was once a trading post and later became one of the largest slave-holding sites in West Africa. Beneath its whitewashed walls lie dark dungeons where thousands of enslaved Africans were held before being forced through the “Door of No Return” onto ships bound for the Americas. Today, the castle is a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering guided tours that take visitors through its haunting chambers, the governor’s quarters, and exhibits of artifacts from the transatlantic slave trade. It is a place of history, reflection, and remembrance — inviting all who visit to learn, honor, and never forget.

What this place offers

Historical Background

First built by the Swedes in 1653 as Fort Carolusborg, Cape Coast Castle was fought over by Danes, Dutch, local Fetu chiefs and, finally, the British, who seized and renamed it in 1664. From a booming hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade it became Britain’s colonial headquarters in the Gold Coast until 1877, later shifting to commerce and education. Today the restored seaside fortress operates as a museum and Ghana Museums & Monuments Board office, inviting visitors to walk through nearly four centuries of layered history.

Visitor Information