What can you see inside the castle?

You can walk through the central courtyard, the cistern and former supply spaces. Information panels explain the structures and their uses.

How much water could the cistern hold?

The vaulted cistern could store 130 tons of water.

Are cultural events held at the castle?

Yes. Events take place in spaces that were formerly used as powder magazines.

Castell de Sant Antoni

Castell de Sant Antoni is a restored 18th-century fortification in Fornells, on Menorca. Walk through the central courtyard and former supply spaces, then go below to see the vaulted cistern, which could hold 130 tons of water. Information panels explain the purpose of the castle’s rooms and defensive structures. From the walls, you can look across the Bay of Fornells and the town. Cultural events are also held in spaces once used for powder storage.

The castle and its restoration

Castell de Sant Antoni stands in Fornells, beside the bay whose entrance the fortress once guarded. Its remains show the layout of a coastal defensive site, with the central courtyard, cistern and former supply rooms among the principal structures still visible.

The castle was demolished by order of Carlos III in 1782, after its defensive role had become obsolete. Restoration work carried out from 2003 to 2008 repaired many of the walls and presented the surviving structures as a historically informed reconstruction. Information panels around the site explain the use of each area.

The cistern and lower level

The cistern lies beneath the central courtyard. Its barrel-vaulted interior measures 8 by 8 metres and could store 130 tons of water, helping the garrison remain supplied during a siege.

The lower level also contained four storage spaces for provisions and gunpowder. The rooms and their protective walls give a sense of how supplies were kept within the fortress. Some former powder-magazine spaces now host cultural events.

Views over Fornells

The castle walls look over the Bay of Fornells and the town. The views are a reason to make the short stop even if you do not plan to study every panel. For a fuller visit, combine the walk around the fortress with time in Fornells village.