A Dutch slave fort from 1652, now in picturesque ruins on the hill above Butre village. It's a short but steep walk up from the village, and the panorama over the coastline and the river mouth at the top makes it worthwhile. Unlike the more visited forts at Elmina and Cape Coast, there are no crowds here — often you'll have it entirely to yourself.
Fort Batenstein
Crumbling 1652 Dutch fort with panoramic coastal views
A story
Fort Batenstein was built by the Dutch West India Company in 1652, making it one of the oldest European structures on the Ghanaian coast. It changed hands between the Dutch and the British several times before finally being ceded to the Gold Coast Colony in the 19th century. Today it's crumbling back into the hillside, but the view over the coast from the ramparts hasn't changed.