Forts are tangible pieces of history screaming to tell stories. Stories of conquest(s), battles, imprisonment, resilience, and a lot more. If you are into history and forts, you will be happy to know that Grenada has a few. Here are two worth visiting, are next to each other on Richmond Hill in St. George, and were both built in the 18th century. But, that seems to be where the commonality ends, and the differences begin.

Fort Matthew

The younger Fort Matthew, a British fortress, is considerably larger than its neighbor. The fort was built from 1784 through 1790 and was a battleground.

Ninety years after its construction, it became a mental institution. The eerie, dark, and damp cells in which the patients were kept can still be seen. Their spirits seem to still linger on the grounds. I may or may not be kidding about the fort being hunted (lol)!

Fort Frederick

One hundred and fifty meters (492 feet) away, Fort Frederick, built by the French in 1779, remains mostly in ruins due to bombardment from the USA invasion of Grenada in 1983. The reason for the invasion? According to Ronald Reagan, the president, bombs were dropped to protect American nationals on the island from the nation's Marxist regime. However, some might say the real reason was that the Grenadian government was building close ties with Cuba.

Fast forward over three decades, in place of ruins is a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding areas. There is also an intriguing underground tunnel that survived the bombs; some of the tunnel sections are open to the public.

Getting to the forts

To get to both forts, you can take a taxi or a public bus to St. George. If you take a bus, at the bus stop, ask for directions from any local. Once you arrive, there is a USD 2 entry fee. You might also want to go with a picnic, blanket, and sunscreen. They are nice picnic areas in both forts.

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