Its importance ensured it was fortified against attack, and you can explore the lookout points and gun emplacements – many still with cannons in place. The island’s most famous resident was French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte who was exiled to this remote rock formation in 1815. Many more important political figures came to St Helena, including Prince Dinizulu of the Zulu Kingdom and 6000 Boer prisoners from South Africa. Recently excavations have revealed the island’s pivotal role in the abolition of slavery.
St Helena History & Heritage Experience
Five hundred years of intrigue
St Helena has acquired a remarkable legacy in just over five hundred years of recorded history. The island’s strategic position meant it was a key staging point throughout the British Empire, controlled initially by the East India Company, and then the British Crown.
