San Felipe Castle

San Felipe Castle, locally known as Castillo Batería de San Felipe, lies next to the beach in the hamlet of Los Escullos in the province of Almería in Spain.

During the 18th century the southern Spanish Mediterranean coast was suffering from attacks of Berber pirates. So, in 1764, Charles III of Spain ordered the construction of nine fortifications on the coast of the Kingdom of Granada.

San Felipe Castle was built in 1765 and designed by Jose Crame. It is almost identical to the forts of San Ramón, Jesús Nazareno, Guardias Viejas, Carchuna and La Herradura.  It is a rectangular artillery fort with a semicircular counterguard for coastal defense and was armed with 4 cannons. Originally the entrance to the fort was over a drawbridge. It was manned by an officer, 3 corporals and 20 soldiers.

In 1990/1991 it was restored.

At present San Felipe Castle can freely be visited. Its interior however was closed when I visited and I don't know if it is ever open. A nice fort at a nice beach.

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