St. Angelo's Fort, Kannur

En un regard

Le château en bref

Perched on a headland some three kilometres west of central Kannur, St. Angelo's Fort is one of the oldest European fortifications on the Malabar Coast. Its triangular plan, dictated by the shape of the cape, is defined by thick laterite walls and broad bastions pierced with embrasures facing the sea. A deep ditch isolates it on the landward side. Within, the complex retains stables, ammunition stores, barracks and powder magazines from the British period, the remains of a chapel, and a small Dutch cemetery with 17th-century tombstones. A sea wall extends the work and shields the sheltered waters from the swell. From the ramparts, the view takes in Mappila Bay, a natural fishing harbour, and Dharmadam Island. The fort, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, is a popular place for strolling and sightseeing, surrounded by lawns.