San Fernando Castle

This castle was built on mount Tossal during the War of Independence against the French in 1813, according to the project of the military engineer Pablo Ordobas, at that time Commander of the Plaza de Alicante, it was made with the purpose of being a prison and to reinforce the defense possibilities of Santa Bárbara Castle. It never came into service, since there was finally no French occupation in Alicante, however, it was close because the French general Louis-Pierre Montbrun bombed the city on January 16, 1812 from the area of ​​Altozano (near the Church of Los Angeles). Apparently, it was a preview of the real attack he intended to take over the city, which did not occur because the general and his troops that same day went to France, recalled for the invasion of Russia. It was a rather sloppy work that was built quickly and badly, because after a short time it began to show structure flaws, in addition to being militarily useless, while costly. Next to the access to the castle is the Monument to the "Heroes Alicantinos de la Independencia".