Exploring Elmina Castles and the History of the Slave Trade in Ghana

Discover Elmina: A Beautiful Destination to Explore

ELMINA CASTLE Elmina castle was first established as a trade settlement, then later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic slave trade. Originally built by the Portuguese, the Dutch seized the fort in 1637, after an unsuccessful attempt in 1596, and took over all of the Portuguese Gold Coast in 1642. The slave trade continued under the Dutch until 1814. In 1872, the Dutch Gold Coast, including the fort, became a possession of the United Kingdom. Today, it is recogniz