If you like castles or forts then Mazarron is the place to go. Like most forts Mazarron is situated high up in the hills, and overlooks the bay. The road leading up to it is quite narrow and in some places is single track only.
Road to Mazarron Fort
Drawings of British ships on wall for identification purposes
Front of Mazarron Fort
Mazarron fort which is near to Cartegena, (which itself is a naval base) is a must for views. The fort, (also known as Veles Castle) which was in use until the 1930′s has a commanding view over the Mediterranean Sea. The main feature being giant guns pointing outwards, which were built in England in the early 1920′s. These guns were never fired in anger and only once for testing.
Inside the fort you can see where all the ammunition was stored and with a torch and the right shoes visitors can climb up inside the guns, which are three stories high and see how the rails were built for the recoil of the guns.
On one of our visits the Spanish forces were having an exercise in the Mediterranean, and as fighters flew over, a submarine went past along the coast, with several warships in sight.
Comparison of size of gun to people
The bay at Mazarron boasts a wealth of underwater treasures. Majestic sea creatures such as whales and dolphins are to be seen there.
On a recent visit to Mazarron Castle we saw that a number of changes had been made.
During 2010 the council had cleaned up the graffiti
Vehicles now have to stop a few hundred metres away from the fort’s entrance, and have to use a small car park instead. A barrier prevents vehicles getting any closer. Be careful though, the car park is very rough, and the top part of it is best accessed by a 4×4, anything else risks getting stuck.
At one time the old officers’ quarters, along with the building housing the troops, stood to the left of the road leading to the fort. These have now been completely demolished for some reason.
Another big change is that a lot of the old underground tunnels have now been blocked up.
The huge cannons remain, but the smaller ones have gone, which is a pity.
In short, there have been some improvements, and Mazarron Fort is perhaps now more visitor friendly. But, I have a feeling some people who have made the trip there in the past will find it a little too sanitized than it was prior to the remedial work.
Mazarron – Costa Calida Spain from Jelco Oosterhof on Vimeo.
While you are in the vicinity, take the trip to the Puerto De Mazarron (Mazarron Port).It’s well worth spending some time there. Mazarron Port is very popular with the Spaniards themselves, particularly during July and August. You will often see a host of small boats, sailing boats and yachts moored in the harbour. There are some lovely bars where you can just sit outside as you overlook the beach, and watch the world go by as you gaze upon the Mediterranean Sea.