Castillo de El Tostón (Torre del Tostón)
A circular two storey defensive tower built around 1700 beside the harbour of El Cotillo, in La Oliva. It now works as a cultural venue, tourist office and coastal viewpoint.
Castillo de El Tostón, also known as Torre del Tostón, is a circular tower of two floors raised around 1700 to a design by the engineer Claudio de l'Isle. Its purpose was military: armed with three iron cannons, it watched over the coast and protected the ships anchored in the harbour of El Cotillo from raids by Berber, English and French pirates. Its heritage value was formally recognised in 1949, when it was declared a Historic Monument, the category that corresponds to today's Bien de Interés Cultural listing.
Today the building is used to present the history and culture of Fuerteventura, and it also hosts contemporary art exhibitions by Canarian artists. It doubles as the local tourist office, which makes it a practical first stop before exploring the village and its surroundings. Standing above the shoreline, it looks out over the beaches of El Cotillo, so the visit combines the exhibition rooms with the role of a viewpoint. It should not be confused with the Faro del Tostón some two kilometres away, which is a separate building and a separate point of interest.
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