The southernmost point of Gibraltar is one of the places from which you have the best view over the Strait of Gibraltar and the African mainland. For me, Europa Point is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the region.
We weren’t quite sure how we were going to reach this headland. Anyone who knows us knows that we like to walk a lot. And so we did that day too – on foot across Gibraltar. Admittedly, it wasn’t a leisurely stroll. The route went up and down, on narrow sidewalks along a very busy street… and then the sidewalk ended. It was impossible to tell whether it was only for a short time or for a longer distance. According to the route plan, we were supposed to walk for at least another 30 minutes. Of course, walking directly on a busy road is no fun and not without danger.
By bus to Europa-Point
So plan B came into play – the bus! Bus number 2 runs directly to Europa-Point every 15 minutes or so and we were lucky enough to be standing at a bus stop.
It was not possible to pay by card on the bus. But we were able to pay in euros. The driver wanted the fare to fit and so we scraped together our cash for a return ticket.
To be honest, it was exactly the right decision to take the bus. The route continues uphill and downhill, the road was narrow and the footpath rarely visible. Finally, we arrive in a flat area “behind” the Rock of Gibraltar. There are a few buildings here and I can even see a sports field. This is Gibraltar’s only cricket oval, where the Gibraltar national cricket team plays.
The bus has its final stop at Europa Point and returns from there after a short break. But first we set off to explore the southernmost tip of Gibraltar.
First, we were drawn directly to the cliffs that mark the end of Europe. We were lucky. Although it is still a little hazy, we can see North Africa on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar. We can make out the peaks of the Rif mountain range in Morocco and Africa seems close enough to touch.
What else is there to see?
We mainly visited Europa Point for the view. But there is a lot more to see.
Harding’s Battery
There are impressive fortifications all over Gibraltar. Some of the fortifications date back to Moorish and Spanish times. However, most of the defenses were built by the British. During our sightseeing tours, I had the feeling that there was a battery on every corner. Some of them were “just walls” to me, others showed quite clearly what they were used for.
Harding’s Battery is located at Europa Point and, apart from the fantastic view, is certainly the main attraction for many visitors. It was named after Sir George Harding, who was chief engineer in 1844 and, together with Sir Charles Holloway, was involved in the destruction of the Spanish fortifications, including Fort St. Felipe and Fort St. Barbara, in 1810.
The battery was built in the 19th century on the remains of an old battery. This shows me quite clearly how big the guns were at the time, capable of firing 800-pound shells over a foot in diameter across the Strait of Gibraltar.
For many years, the battery lay buried under a mountain of sand. It was only when the European Pioneer was redesigned that it was dug up again and restored.
There is supposed to be a visitor center at this site where you can get more information. This is located in one of the underground magazines. We did not visit this.
Lighthouse
The Bay of Gibraltar was not always easy to navigate. For many years, sailors used the light on a church as a landmark. They donated oil to keep it burning.
It was not until 1838 that a lighthouse was built at Europa Point on the instructions of the governor at the time. The building was inaugurated in 1841.
The lighthouse is around 20 meters high and stands 49 meters above the sea on a cliff. The cylindrical building is painted white and has a red ring in the middle. Initially, the lighthouse had a one-wick lamp whose light shone out of a fixed opening. A number of optical devices were used to increase the visibility of the light. This technology has since been modernized several times and visibility has improved. Today, operation is fully automated and LED lamps shine across the strait in the dark.
It is not possible to enter the grounds around the lighthouse, but from a slightly higher path you can get a very good view of the structure and the surrounding buildings.
General Sikorski Memorial
During our exploration tour at the southernmost tip of Gibraltar, we notice an interesting memorial. It has the shape of an airplane propeller and this unusual shape makes it interesting, of course.
The Sikorski memorial commemorates the crash of a B-24 in Gibraltar in July 1943. Among others, General Władysław Sikorski, who was on board, lost his life. At the time, Sikorski was the commander-in-chief of the Polish army and prime minister of the Polish government-in-exile. Another 15 people lost their lives in this accident, only the pilot survived the crash.
The memorial at Europe Point is the third memorial to be erected since the Gibraltar disaster. The first memorials were located near the crash site and looked different. The locations were unsatisfactory for visitors. The memorials were a popular destination for Polish visitors to Gibraltar. However, there was little space and neither tour groups nor official delegations were able to gather there in a dignified manner. The Polish authorities tried for several years to move the memorial to a more spacious location in Gibraltar. It was not until 2013 that the current location was unveiled, where there is now sufficient space for commemorative events.
The relocation also changed the appearance of the memorial. The propeller of the B-24 from the previous memorial was placed on a new, larger base. In the middle of the memorial is a sandstone disk from Szydłów in Poland. The words “General Władysław Sikorski 1881-1943” are carved into the ground in front of the disk. Behind the disk is a semicircular stone wall on which stands a carved Polish military cyclist. The Polish naval pennant and the air force emblem are embedded at opposite ends of the wall. In addition to Sikorski, plaques also name the other victims and explain the events of the crash to visitors.
Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque
Around 1000 Muslims live in Gibraltar. King Fahd of Saudi Arabia donated the Ibrahim al-Ibrahim Mosque to the faithful. A rather expensive gift, as he had to pay a good 5 million pounds for its construction. It is the southernmost mosque in continental Europe and one of the largest mosques in a non-Muslim country.
The mosque houses classrooms, a conference hall, a library, an apartment for the janitor, a mortuary, offices and the iman lives right next door. The main prayer hall is on the second floor of the building.
The Ibrahim al-Ibrahim Mosque is used daily by Muslims living in Gibraltar and can also be visited.
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