Castillo de San Marcos (St. Mark's Castle), St. Augustine (must see)
St. Mark鈥檚 Castle rises on the waterfront as St. Augustine鈥檚 unmistakable stronghold. Its origins go back to the late 1600s, when Spain had grown tired of watching pirates and English raiders torch its wooden forts like kindling. In 1672, the crown ordered something more permanent, and for over two decades crews quarried and stacked blocks of coquina鈥攖he seashell-based limestone unique to Florida鈥檚 coast. The result was a fortress that seemed almost alive: cannonballs would sink into its walls rather than shatter them, leaving the stone pockmarked but intact. By 1695, the Castillo was finished, and for the first time St. Augustine had a defense that endured.
The centuries that followed tested those walls again and again. British sieges, pirate raids, and shifting colonial rivalries all passed, but the fort never fell. When Florida was ceded to Britain in 1763, the stronghold was renamed Fort St. Mark; two decades later it returned to Spain, and by 1821 the United States claimed it, rechristening it Fort Marion. In the 19th century it was used less as a fortress and more as a prison, including for Seminole leaders during the wars that followed U.S. expansion. By 1900 the military no longer needed it, but its stone walls remained unbroken.
Nowadays the Castle is a National Monument, its Spanish name restored in 1942. Visitors can cross the drawbridge into its sally port, walk through rooms once used as barracks or storerooms, and climb to the gun deck for sweeping views of the bay. Reenactments and exhibits explain what life was like for soldiers who kept watch here centuries ago. For nearly 350 years, the Castillo has outlasted empires and served as St. Augustine鈥檚 most enduring witness to the struggles and ambitions that shaped Florida鈥檚 coast.
The centuries that followed tested those walls again and again. British sieges, pirate raids, and shifting colonial rivalries all passed, but the fort never fell. When Florida was ceded to Britain in 1763, the stronghold was renamed Fort St. Mark; two decades later it returned to Spain, and by 1821 the United States claimed it, rechristening it Fort Marion. In the 19th century it was used less as a fortress and more as a prison, including for Seminole leaders during the wars that followed U.S. expansion. By 1900 the military no longer needed it, but its stone walls remained unbroken.
Nowadays the Castle is a National Monument, its Spanish name restored in 1942. Visitors can cross the drawbridge into its sally port, walk through rooms once used as barracks or storerooms, and climb to the gun deck for sweeping views of the bay. Reenactments and exhibits explain what life was like for soldiers who kept watch here centuries ago. For nearly 350 years, the Castillo has outlasted empires and served as St. Augustine鈥檚 most enduring witness to the struggles and ambitions that shaped Florida鈥檚 coast.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in St. Augustine. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Castillo de San Marcos (St. Mark's Castle) on Map
Sight Name: Castillo de San Marcos (St. Mark's Castle)
Sight Location: St. Augustine, USA (See walking tours in St. Augustine)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: St. Augustine, USA (See walking tours in St. Augustine)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in St. Augustine, Florida
Create Your Own Walk in St. Augustine
Creating your own self-guided walk in St. Augustine is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
St. Augustine Introduction Walking Tour
It is said that the first-ever Thanksgiving meal took place in 1565, when Spanish explorers led by Pedro Men茅ndez held a Catholic Mass and a communal meal with the Timucua people in what is now St. Augustine, Florida.
Poised on Florida鈥檚 northeastern coast, the city holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded settlement in the United States. Its story... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Poised on Florida鈥檚 northeastern coast, the city holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded settlement in the United States. Its story... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
St. Augustine's Historical Houses Tour
A great deal of St. Augustine's storied past is set in stone in the form of houses that have been inhabited for over 400 years. The number of historic homes found in the city offer a glimpse into its colorful culture with European roots.
Among the most notable of them is the Ximenez-Fatio House. Built in 1798, originally as a boarding place for wealthy travelers, today this property serves... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Among the most notable of them is the Ximenez-Fatio House. Built in 1798, originally as a boarding place for wealthy travelers, today this property serves... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
St. Augustine Early Settlements Tour
The city of St. Augustine on the northeastern coast of Florida is considered the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States. It was founded by Spanish explorer Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles on September 8, 1565, and served as the capital of Spanish Florida for more than 200 years.
One of the most significant early European sites in the city is the Castillo de San... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
One of the most significant early European sites in the city is the Castillo de San... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles