Fort San Domingo (New Taipei City Tamsui Historical Museum) Introduction
Fort San Domingo, standing in Tamsui for over 300 years, is characterized by its striking crimson exterior. The site features buildings from the Spanish, Qing, and Japanese eras, making it one of Taiwan's oldest existing structures. The fort was originally built in 1628 by the Spanish who ruled northern Taiwan, known as "Castillo de San Domingo," but it was later destroyed. In 1644, the Dutch rebuilt it near the original site and named it "Fort Anton." At that time, the local Chinese referred to the Dutch as "Red-haired," which is how the fort acquired its name "Fort San Domingo." In 1724, Wang Qian, the deputy magistrate of Tamsui, began renovations on the fort, adding four outer gates. After 1867, the British government rented the fort for use as a consulate and built a consular residence next to it. Having experienced rule from the Spanish, Dutch, Ming Zheng, Qing, as well as British, American, and Australian authorities, it serves as a living testament to Taiwan's history. The Fort San Domingo Historic Site, opened to visitors at the end of 1984, includes the castle-like main fort, the consular residence styled building, and the South Gate from the Qing Dynasty. The architecture serves various functions, including military defense, consular office, and dungeon. Walking along the arched corridor to the front square of Fort San Domingo offers a view of the Tamsui River and Guanyin Mountain scenery. The setting sun, known as "Shutai Sunset," one of the Eight Sceneries of Tamsui, is located here—an unmissable beauty.
