Europa Point, Gibraltar

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Europa Point is the southernmost point of Gibraltar and one of Gibraltar’s main attarctions, contrary to common belief, it is not the Southernmost point of mainland Europe (which is located a couple of kilometers to the west in Spain). The lookout point can become very buss during high season, but is worth a visit. From here, you can see the coast of Morocco on a clear day as well as watch all the ships waiting to pass through the strait of Gibraltar.
Further attarctions include the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim mosque, the shrine of “Our Lady of Europe” and the lighthouse. The latter one was built in 1838, became fully operational in 1841 and was automatized in 1994. The café and souvenir shop, once called “europe’s last shop”, is permanently closed and does not seem to reopen soon.
Check out my travellogue to read about a ship accident which happened at Europa point a short time before my visit to Gibraltar.

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The first stop on our trip was at the southernmost end of Gibraltar which is called the Europa point where you can get a view of both Spain, Africa and the Strait of Gibraltar - standing on the English ground of Gibraltar. There is a light-house there and a small chapel, The Roman Catholic Shrine of our Lady of Europe. Opposite the Europa point there is a mosque, Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim mosque, which was a gift from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.

Do pay this place a visit, the view from here is fantastic.

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This view looking directly north toward Spain gives some idea of the shape of The Rock on its eastern side. The smaller cliff above sea at the right is about 160 feet high, the same level at which the lighthouse was built. The taller cliff behind it is the 430 foot high Windmill Hill which has a flat area out of sight behind it called the Windmill Flats, where more gun batteries are located to protect Gibraltar from the east. The actual 1300 foot peak of Gibraltar is lost in the distant mist. Defenses on the eastern side of the Rock are fewer than most other areas because of the rocky beach and sheer cliffs rising quickly up - not a good spot for an attacker to land!

Because it was winter, it was nice to spot a few colourful flowers too (2nd photo), located just below a new pipeline of some sort that runs on the surface in this part of Gibraltar. Unfortunately, the bus was about to leave on our return journey, so we had no time for a closer look.

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I always like to see a lighthouse and the one at Europa Point looked like quite a tidy affair, although it was too far away from our bus to allow us enough time to go for a closer look.

This British-designed masonry tower was built on the very southern tip of Gibraltar in 1841 and has a flashing white light at a height of 49 m (161 feet) above sea level, as well as two red lights slightly lower - one steady and the other flashing. With its elevated position, the lighthouse signal can be seen at sea from a distance of 37-kilometres (17 miles). The lighthouse is also equipped with a fog horn for good measure. The site is open to visitors but there is no access to the tower itself. It must look quite impressive from the Mediterranean Sea - with it's sharply dropping cliff in front and both the new Mosque and the Rock itself rising behind it!

The Europa lighthouse was built between 1838 and 1841 by the then Governor Sir Alexander Woodfood. It remains in service and became fully automated in 1994. The lighthouse stands at a height of 162ft and the light from the lighthouse can be seen some 30 miles away. The lighthouse keepers lodge was built alongside but has because of automation, the building has now become just a normal residence.

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Europa Point is at the very southern tip of Gibraltar and the furthermost point on the European continent. It is a popular stop for those wanting to visit the Shrine to Our Lady of Europe, a Roman Catholic church. There is also the Ibrahim-al-ibrahim Mosque and the lighthouse for photo opportunities.

This very colourful Pyramid has a plaque which commemorates the point being the edge of the ancient known world where Hercules is said to have divided Europe from Africa and where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet. It reports some 70000 ships pass through this strait annually.

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The mosque took around 2 years to build and was finally finished and inaugurated in 1997. The building was a gift to the citizens of Gibraltar from King Fahd Al-Saud. On one side there is an underground cistern which dates back to the Moorish times. The cistern receives water via limestone rocks on a fault of the cliff face and this well was supposedly used by nuns as a bathing place.