Ireland: Kinsale – Charles Fort

Charles Fort is a massive star-shaped military fortress, the biggest such fortification in Ireland., built between 1677 and 1682, during the reign of King Charles II (hence the name), to protect access to the Kinsale harbor. Unlike medieval castles with tall stone towers that were vulnerable to artillery, Charles Fort was built low to the ground with massive thick walls faced with stone. Its classic star-shaped design ensured there were no blind spots; cannons from one bastion could cross-fire to defend an adjacent wall. The fort is huge and to explore it you need to walk around all the walls and the sprawling interior.