Fort San Domingo (New Taipei City Tamshui Historical Museum) Introduction
The Red Hair Castle, standing for over 300 years in Tamsui, is characterized by its striking vermilion exterior. The park features buildings from the Spanish era, Qing Dynasty, and Japanese colonial period, making it one of the oldest existing structures in Taiwan. The initial construction of the castle began in 1628 by the Spanish, who ruled northern Taiwan, and named it "Fort Santo Domingo." However, Fort Santo Domingo was later destroyed, and in 1644, the Dutch rebuilt it near the original site, naming it "Fort Anthony." The Han people referred to the Dutch as "Red Hair," which led to the castle being named "Red Hair Castle." In 1724, Wang Qian, the then Tamsui Deputy Magistrate, started renovating Red Hair Castle, adding four outer gates. After 1867, it began to be rented by the British government as a consulate, with a consular residence built nearby. Having experienced governance by the Spanish, Dutch, Ming Zheng, Qing Dynasty, and British, American, and Australian authorities, it serves as a living testament to the history of Taiwan. The Red Hair Castle historical area, opened to visitors at the end of 1984, includes the castle-style main fortress, the western-style consulate residence, and the South Gate from the Qing Dynasty; its architecture serves various functions such as military defense, consular office, and dungeon. Walking along the arched corridor to the front square of Red Hair Castle offers a view of the Tamsui River and Guanyin Mountain. One of the Eight Scenic Spots of Tamsui, "The Sunset at Shuitai" is located here, and the beauty of the sunset is not to be missed.
