Fort Jesus

Fort Jesus
Photo by Roman Bruehwiler.

Fort Jesus, Mombasa is a fort built by the Portuguese to control the Indian Ocean trade. It later came under Arab, Swahili and English control.

The fortress was the first European-style fort constructed outside of Europe, a new type of fortification designed to resist cannon fire and built reflecting the Renaissance ideal. Today, it is one of the finest surviving examples of 16th-century Portuguese military architecture, which was influenced and changed by both Omani Arab and British colonial powers.

Community Perspective: Worth about an hour. Your only choice to make is whether to hire a guide or not.

1 Locations 2 Reviews 23 Ratings 16 Connections 74 Visitors Plaques

Map of Fort Jesus

Community Reviews

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Zoë Sheng

Chinese-Canadian - 06-Jan-24 -

Fort Jesus by Zoë Sheng

Oh jeez, they named a fort after Jesus? Well unlike the prophet the fort is not special, at all. So the unique points are that it was numero uno European (Portuguese) fort in the area of this style, second being that it was taken over by the Omanis. You can get around the entire fort within 20 minutes as it's so small. If you want to hire a guide they will approach you as you get to the entrance already and the ticket check lady asked me again as I entered. I think there are only two places that they would be useful. 1. The great wall painting and I would say that IS the best about the fort if not for it being remade in the 60s. Here there would be explanations to appreciate it more. Second would be arch passage and rooms below because by itself it's nothing to look at and I overheard the guides chat about it a lot. The main barracks are currently under renovation so I think they will add a lot to see later. There is also a small Omani museum but it's not really related to the fort (and talks about heritage sites in that country instead) as well as a large whale bone collection which again doesn't apply to the fort.

Even though I had all morning planned for the sightseeing it was already done within an hour. Can't really recommend it.

Michael Novins

United States - 28-Nov-16 -

Fort Jesus by Michael Novins

In August 2016, I flew from Zanzibar to Mombasa, where I stayed at the Castle Royal Hotel, which dates from 1909 and is centrally located between the Moi Avenue tusks and Mombasa Old Town. Along with a guide from Diani Tours (http://www.dianisafaris-kenya.com), I walked from my hotel to the historic spice market (one of the most photogenic in East Africa) and then through the Old Town, where I visited the White House (which served as the first U.S. consulate in Kenya from 1915 - 1918), to Fort Jesus, a Portuguese fort built between 1593 and 1596. Based on what I had read, I thought it was prudent to arrange for a local guide, although the area seemed safe, at least for a daylight meandering -- still, it was helpful to have a guide to navigate through the labyrinthine streets from the spice market to Fort Jesus.

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Site Info

Full Name
Fort Jesus, Mombasa
Unesco ID
1295
Country
Kenya
Inscribed
2011
Type
Cultural
Criteria
2 5
Categories
Structure - Military and Fortifications
Link
By ID

Site History

2011 Advisory Body overruled

ICOMOS recommended Deferral - proposal needed better justification of OUV, comparative analysis and buffer zone. Nigeria proposed inscription - passed nem con!

2011 Inscribed

2010 Referred

2008 Incomplete - not examined

Site Links

Unesco Website
Fort Jesus, Mombasa
In the News

Sh498m Fort Jesus wall to stop erosion of World Heritage Site (2018.01.17)

Fort Jesus to get a $3.9M facelift (2016.10.03)

Vandals Deface Fort Jesus Heritage Site (2015.05.09)

Fort Jesus continues to register dwindling numbers of visitors (2014.04.15)

Locations

The site has 1 locations

Fort Jesus

Connections

The site has

Art and Architecture
Coral Masonry: Part of the original construction material (AB ev)
Renaissance: Described as Renaissance military architecture (AB ev)
Italian Architects outside Italy: "Fort Jesus, Mombasa, was erected in 1593-96 to the designs of Giovanni Battista Cairati ... Cairati was an Italian military architect and engineer who designed several fortresses for the Portuguese colonies in Asia" (AB ev)
Constructions
Prison: Under British rule the Fort was converted to a prison until 1958 (AB ev)
Moats: "includes the fort's moat" (Brief Description)
Cisterns: "The fortress included facilities such as a chapel, a cistern, a well, and the Captain’s house, but among these only the cistern and an L-shaped building survive." (AB ev)
Geography
Swahili culture: Although of Portugese origin, it has some Swahilian touches: "Decorative elements included Swahili kidaka (plastered wall niches) that ran along the east wall at a height of 1.75 meters from the floor." (link)
Human Activity
Geoglyphs: The Fort was given a form that was roughly human ... the image of the martyred Christ has also been read in the plan of the fort (AB ev)
Sea Ports: Because of its strategic location, Mombasa grew in importance over the centuries and soon became a major trading port ... Fort Jesus, Mombasa, was erected .. to protect its port" (AB ev)
Slavery: Mombasa played an important part in the Indian Ocean Slave Trade, and the strategic Fort Jesus was involved. It is also believed that enslaved persons were kept at the Fort, both by the Omani and the British.
Timeline
Built in the 16th century: built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596
Trivia
Built or owned by Portuguese: "Fort Jesus, Mombasa, was erected in 1593-96 to the designs of Giovanni Battista Cairati by the Portuguese when they gained control over Mombasa" (AB ev)
Built or owned by Omanis: "Having become aware of declining Portuguese control, the Omani raided their possessions on the East African coast from 1652 onwards and repeated attacks were launched until 1696 when the Omani Arabs besieged Fort Jesus, Mombasa, and eventually drove out the Portuguese." (AB ev)
Visiting conditions
Foreigner prices: 1,200 Ksh for non-residents, 200 Ksh for Kenyans (2025)
WHS on Other Lists
World Monuments Watch: Swahili Coast Heritage Sites, Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania (2025)
World Heritage Process
Single Monuments

Visitors

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The Plaque

No plaque has been identified yet for this site.