For a change from beaches and white houses, discover Fort San Gabriel, which protected Arrecife and the island of Lanzarote. Its location is privileged, and a museum inside tells you more about the city’s history.
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to the Castillo San Gabriel in Arrecife, Lanzarote.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is a visit to Castillo San Gines worthwhile?
It all depends on your interests.
It’s a fort with a remarkable location and a magnificent historic access bridge. It was a fortress built to defend the town against pirates. But it’s a tiny fort with explanatory panels in Spanish.
This is one of Arrecife’s main attractions.
What you can see
Puente de las Bolas
The Castillo de San Gabriel is linked to the city by two bridges.
One is modern, but the other is not to be missed: the Puente de las Bolas, a drawbridge built in 1771.
It owes its name to the two cannonballs mounted on its pillars.
This bridge is unique in the Canary Islands.
History, architecture and historical museum
The wooden fort was built in 1573 at the request of Don Agustín de Herrera y Rojas, the first Count and Marquis of Lanzarote.
It was intended as a response to frequent pirate attacks.
However, the wooden fortress was soon destroyed by fire in 1586 during an attack by the Ottoman privateer Morato Arráez.
In 1591, the fort was rebuilt in stone by order of King Philip II of Spain, again to improve the island’s defenses.
It’s a square fort with towers at each corner.
On the plan above, you can see the direction of the visit to the historical museum inside, with the sequence of museum rooms.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Lanzarote
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- A small car is all you need.
- But you can also choose a larger one if you wish, as the parking spaces are rather large.
- Demand is high, so book early.
The outdoor passageway and its exhibitions
You begin by touring the rooms on the outside of the structure. These are the most fascinating with their stone walls. However, people suffering from claustrophobia may have difficulty in these rooms.
Here you’ll find explanatory panels (in Spanish) on the history of Arrecife.
Learn more about:
- pirate attacks,
- urban planning through the ages,
- the town of Arrecife today.
Some rooms feature replicas of pirate-era guards’ uniforms or model ships (in the carpentry room).
The centerpieces and their displays
In the center of the bastion, the rooms still offer a wealth of information on Arrecife and its history (but always with explanations in Spanish):
- Nearby flora and fauna
- Geology
- Shellfish
- Archaeological digs in the region
- Pottery
- …
The mummy
You’ll even find a pre-Hispanic mummy. It was found on an archaeological site and provides an insight into the burial practices of the island’s ancient inhabitants.
The terrace
At the end, be sure to climb up to the terrace. It is only one storey high and has a flat floor.
It features a belfry with a bell and two gunboats.
But what’s most interesting is the view towards the old town of Arrecife, with the old stone bridge, the tower of the San Gines church and the volcanoes in the background.
The cannons
The Castillo de San Gabriel is also appreciated for its few cannons, which bear witness to its military and defensive past.
At least two wheeled cannons can be seen outside the fort. They contribute to the historic atmosphere of the site.
Castillo beach
And for those who want to relax after their visit, there are 3 sandy beaches around the fort with different exhibits. We love this little beach pictured above, facing the old road and bridge with the town behind.
But there’s also a beach overlooking the sea and the fort.
CHOOSING A HOTEL IN Lanzarote
Choosing where to stay:
Select by hotel type:
- 5-star hotels
- Best boutique-hotels
- Best adults-only hotels
- Best all-inclusive hotels
- Best hotels for families
Our favorite: Hotel Cala Lanzarote – See prices, photos and availability
Select by city:
Fort Saint Gabriel in Arrecife: how to get there
Where to find the church
- In Arrecife
- In the old town, to the north, near the San Gines fishing port
Access by car and parking
The fort is ideally located along the promenade, close to the San Gines district.
As far as parking is concerned, there are several parking lots throughout the city. We particularly recommend Parking Islas Canarias on Avenida de la Mancomunidad. It’s not free, but it has the great advantage of being open 24 hours a day.
Visiting difficulties
As mentioned above, people suffering from claustrophobia are bound to have difficulties in this area.
And to reach the terrace, there’s only one floor, but they’re old, high steps.
You should also know that on our last visit, the explanatory panels were all in Spanish.
It’s not at all accessible to PRMs.
HAVE FUN WITH THESE Lanzarote activities
- Dolphin watching
- Buggy / Quad
- Kayak excursion
- But also: Diving at the Museum of the Atlantic, Catamaran outings, Paddle excursions, Parasailing
Visit: useful tips
Schedules and prices
You can admire it from the outside, free of charge, at any time of day.
For the interior tour, times are in theory:
Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sundays closed except on cruises (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
See the latest news on the official website here.
And there’s a small entry fee.
How long
If you read Spanish, allow 45min.
Otherwise, 15min.
The fort is small, so they are limited in the number of people who can enter at any one time.
Eating out
No on-site catering. You have to go into town.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Lanzarote
- Best of
Most beautiful landscapes
Best things to do in Lanzarote
Most beautiful beaches
Most beautiful villages
Best boat tours
César Manrique’s attractions
Secret places, off the beaten track
Most beautiful hikes
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Lanzarote
How to get around
How to rent a car in Lanzarote
Driving tips
Where to stay in Lanzarote
Best hotels in Lanzarote
Best excursions
Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
