Fort San Domingo
紅毛城
A red-brick fortress first built by the Spanish in the 17th century and later used as the British consulate, one of the oldest surviving buildings in Taiwan and a must-visit historic site in Tamsui.
Fort San Domingo was first built by the Spanish in 1628 as the San Domingo Fortress. In 1644, the Dutch rebuilt it in stone on the same site. It later passed through the Ming-Zheng and Qing periods, and from 1867 to 1972 it was leased by Britain as a consulate. It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Taiwan and is designated a national historic site. The main fortress has thick red-brick walls, and its gun emplacements and dungeon are well preserved. Next to it, the British consul's residence, built in 1891, is a typical colonial red-brick Western building with a veranda, and its lawn overlooks the Tamsui River estuary and Guanyin Mountain. Admission is about NT$80 (including Little White House and Hobe Fort in the Tamsui historic site park). Hours are generally 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (extended to 6 p.m. on weekends), and it is closed on the first Monday of each month. From Tamsui MRT Station, it is about a 20-minute walk along Zhongzheng Road, or you can take the Red 26 bus. It is often visited alongside Tamsui Old Street, Aletheia University and Fisherman's Wharf.
Opening hours
09:30–17:00 (until 18:00 on weekends; closed the first Monday of each month)
Nearby sights
- Tamsui Old Street
- Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf
- Beitou Hot Springs
- Yangmingshan Park
- Shilin Night Market
- National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine
- Taipei Palace Museum
- Dihua Street & Dadaocheng