Fort St. Catherine

Fort St. Catherine is located on the right bank of the river Paraiba de Norte, 20 kilometers from the city of João Pesoa. The fortress was built in the late XVI century during the colonial wars between Portugal and the Netherlands. Today the fort has been restored in its original form.

The first fortifications in northern Paraiba were built by local settlers in 1585. At first, the Capuchin monks fortified the hill near the port of Cabedelou, and a few years later the detachment of Captain Matus began the construction of fortifications and the construction of a barracks here. By 1597, a powerful fort was built with three bastions, an arsenal, warehouses and a barracks. It was consecrated in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria.

In 1634, after a long siege, the fort was taken by the Dutch.

In the XIX century, the fort served as a prison, during the revolution of 1817, the local garrison raised uprisings, which were suppressed using artillery. Later the fortress began to fall into disrepair.

In 1991, a group of activists of the Paraiba Cultural Center organized the reconstruction of Fort St. Catherine.

Today, tourists come to see this glorious place, which has played a prominent role in the history of Brazil.