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Elizabeth Castle Child eyes the sights on a cannon

Elizabeth Castle Jersey

Lé Châté Lîzabé

Visit Elizabeth Castle, a fortress just off the coast of Jersey to explore 400 years of history

Aerial view of a castle

Built on a tidal Island in St Aubin’s Bay and dating from the 16th century onwards, the castle defended Jersey for more than 400 years.

At Elizabeth Castle Jersey,  spend your day exploring this sprawling 15-acre fortress: climb the battlements dating back to the time Sir Walter Raleigh was Governor of Jersey; explore the grounds that gave refuge to King Charles II during the English Civil War; uncover the story of the Castle during the German Occupation in World War II; then discover the oldest part of this site, The Hermitage, where Saint Helier is thought to have lived around 550 A.D. You will step back in time to 1781 and meet the Castle Gunner who will tell you his story of the Battle of Jersey, but be prepared to be drafted into the Midday Parade and witness the firing of the musket and cannon.

Elizabeth Castle is closed until 18 March 2025, visit Mont Orgueil Castle instead, it’s open 10am to 4pm every day.

a castle with a walkway through an incoming tide
Man stands by entrance to Elizabeth Castle
Elizabeth Castle girl looks down on castle
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Arrival

How To Get To Elizabeth Castle

Elizabeth Castle is built on a tidal Island in St Aubin’s Bay in St Helier and is cut off by the tide twice a day.  To reach the Castle and begin your adventure, at low tide you can walk along the causeway or take the amphibious Castle Ferry which runs all day when the Castle is open to the public.  Occasionally wind and tide conditions mean we have to make changes to our opening times.

Read our access guide for more information.

 

Elizabeth Castle children on the Castle Ferry

Learn the History of Elizabeth Castle

Elizabeth Castle has many chapters to its story, including residents such as Sir Walter Raleigh, King Charles II and German occupying forces, but its history dates back as far as the 6th century to St Helier, who Jersey’s capital is named after. A hermit called Helibert lived in the hermitage on the islet where the Castle is built. He was murdered and later made into a saint called St Helier. Islanders make an annual pilgrimage to the hermitage and it is a fascinating part of the Castle grounds for visitors to explore.

The first building on the islet was an abbey, named after Helibert and founded in 1155. It was soon downgraded to a priory and later abandoned. Fast forward to the late 16th century and a fortress was being built, taking over the main defence of Jersey once gunpowder and cannon were introduced and the medieval castle of Mont Orgueil on the east coast was no longer up to the job. Raleigh, who was Governor of Jersey from 1600-1603, later named the new castle after his Queen; Fort Isabella Bellissima, or Elizabeth Castle Jersey.  Read more…

 

A green with a tower and a Jersey flag flying
Protecting Fort Elizabeth’s History For The Future.

Jersey Heritage is currently restoring parts of the Castle to bring them back into public use and you’ll see scaffolding around two important, historic buildings – the Georgian Military Hospital and the Officers’ Quarters. This work is essential to secure the Castle’s future and you can find out more about what’s in store for the buildings here.

A castle in the background within a harbour

Places to Visit

Mont Orgueil Castle

A medieval castle with links to the English Crown and amazing views across to France.

Landscape of Elizabeth Castle fortress with sea surrounding the footprint of the castle

History

The History and Future of an Island’s Fortress

We are restoring Elizabeth Castle to ensure it is protected for generations to come

Aerial View of Elizabeth Castle

History

Castles of Jersey

Why has Jersey been one of the most heavily fortified parts of the British Isles?

Elizabeth Castle Apartment exterior

Heritage Lets

Elizabeth Castle Apartment

Stay in your very own historic castle, a mile out to sea.

Man and Woman getting married walk towards Elizabeth Castle

Weddings

Getting married?

A perfect castle wedding venue as unique as you are making your day truly unforgettable.

Find out more
Man and Woman getting married walk towards Elizabeth Castle

Stay

You can stay here too

Did you know you can stay at Elizabeth Castle's apartment?

Read more