Blackbeard’s Castle

US Virgin Islands


Set atop Government Hill, this five-story masonry watchtower was said to be the lookout post of pirate Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard, in the 18th century. Actually, historians don’t lend much credence to the tale. What’s known for certain is that colonial Danes built the tower as a military installation in 1678. It's been closed since the 2017 hurricanes and mum's the word on when it may reopen.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby US Virgin Islands attractions

1. 99 Steps

0.12 MILES

These stairs lead from Kongens Gade up into a canopy of trees at the foot of Blackbeard's Castle. The steps, of which there are actually 103 (though you…

2. Government House

0.12 MILES

Ascend the hill behind Frederik Lutheran Church and you’ll come to a grand white mansion housing the territorial governor's offices. It was built between…

3. Frederik Lutheran Church

0.16 MILES

Located near the fort, this is one of Charlotte Amalie’s architectural gems. During the 19th century the church had segregated congregations – one West…

4. Emancipation Garden

0.21 MILES

Emancipation Garden is where the emancipation proclamation was read after enslaved people were freed on St Croix in 1848. Carnival celebrations and…

5. St Thomas Synagogue

0.21 MILES

The second-oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere (the oldest is on the island of Curaçao), peaceful St Thomas Synagogue is a National Historic…

6. Fort Christian

0.24 MILES

Red-brick Fort Christian is the oldest Danish fortification in the Caribbean, dating to 1672. Over the years it has housed a jail, a governor’s residence…

7. Frenchtown

0.82 MILES

The island’s ‘Frenchies,’ aka Huguenots who emigrated to St Thomas from St-Barthélemy during the mid-19th century, populated this community of brightly…

8. Havensight

0.97 MILES

A hundred years ago the area on the east side of Charlotte Amalie Harbor was a bustling steamship wharf. Known today as Havensight, the district is still…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "us-virgin-islands/charlotte-amalie-around/attractions/blackbeard-s-castle/a/poi-sig/1397975/1317109",
      "destination": "US-Virgin-Islands",
      "continent": "Caribbean",
      "country": "US-Virgin-Islands",
      "position": "superzone"
    }