Castillo de San Severino, Matanzas

Discover Castillo de San Severino in Matanzas and the Slave Route Museum on the Cuban coast

Castillo de San Severino, Matanzas
© Roberto Garioca Martinez

Castillo de San Severino (San Severino Castle), located north of the barrio de Versalles (Versailles neighbourhood) in Matanzas, is an 18th century fortress built by the Spanish as part of the defensive belt of this area of Cuba.

Castillo de San Severino
© Roberto Garioca Martinez

Since African slaves placed the first stones of the castle, this construction has had diverse aims. Apart from the role of watching over the safety of the locals, this military structure also served as a prison where all kinds of criminals gathered: slaves, free citizens, conspirators of the crown, deserters... Although the initial purpose of the fortress had been to defend the port and the city from external enemies, during the Wars of Independence in 1868 its prison activity became more relevant, as the enemies were now considered to be the compatriots themselves.

This is a large complex in which you can find parts of the building reconstructed after years of abandonment and deterioration. Other elements remain in their original state with the signs of the passage of time etched into their surface.

Its original design based on a perfect square finished off by towers at its apexes, just as medieval castles were built (hence the name castle), has survived the centuries and can still be seen. Besides touring the corners of an ancient fortress for these features, the castle is a good place to enjoy the sea views which can be enjoyed from its superb location.

Today it is a visit worth paying a visit, not only because of the building itself, worthy of being declared a National Monument in 1978, and its history, but also because of the Museo de la Ruta de los Esclavos (Slave Route Museum), which has been part of the castle since 2009. Its exhibition has four rooms in which, apart from presenting the silenced history of the slaves, it tries to pay tribute to the lives of all of them, which is above all novel and deserved.

More Information:

Location: Zona industrial, Versalles.

Opening hours:

From Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Ticket price:

2 CUC; 1 CUC more for a camera.

Telephone:

(+53) 45 283259.

Interactive map:

Varadero

What to see:

Beaches:

Museums :

Museo Municipal de Varadero

Cardenas

What to See:

Catedral de la Purísima Concepción de Cárdenas

Museums:

Península de Zapata

What to See:

Beaches:

Museums :

Other nearby destinations:

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✓ Disseminate Cuba, its culture and its heritage.
✓ Promote sustainable tourism.
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