Elmina town walk

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Elmina is a small community and easy to walk around. Being the first European city in Africa Elmina has a lot to share than what meets the eye. The town walk offers in-depth information on the economic, historical, and cultural activities of Elmina. Beyond the Elmina Castle is a lively community full of history and tradition. Learn about the archaeological site of the old Elmina township that was destroyed by the British and the 19th Century Dutch Merchant Houses, The tour takes patrons to the Dutch Cemetery with its imposing Mausoleum and grave markers which recount the stories of European and African celebrities, canons of redoubts which fortified the town from external attacks, walk by the “Asafo posuban” traditional military posts and learn about the philosophies behind these Asafo company effigies.

A walk in the fish market reveals the different variety of seafood available to the local population, experience the life of fisher folk. Trace the Dutch Walk to enjoy a history of the Dutch and other Europeans in Elmina, and learn how a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church metamorphosed into a god in Elmina. Also learn about the indigenous population, their occupation, religious and social life.

Listen to stories about prominent families and personalities like Vanderpuije, Van Ess, Vandyke, Bartels and Vroom. Photograph edifices built by wealthy Dutch and Afro-Dutch merchants, let us re-enact how the Dutch took over the castle from the Portuguese. A marble stone that marked the spot, visit the ruins of Mount Pleasant with its black and white marble tiled stairs, the Government Garden; see partly-ruined neo-classical gates to the Garden, the Watch tower which protected and connected the Garden with all the towers in Elmina, the Java Hill and canons that protected the redoubts and the town. The tour will brief you about the Dutch cemetery in which many nuns and Roman Catholic Fathers are buried. Also visit the site of Schomerus Hill and Fort Coenraadsburg.