Forts / Batteries / Castles, Gibraltar

As you approach Gibraltar from Spain, a great square tower is visible on the mountainside.This is The Tower of Homage, all that remains of the original Moorish Castle complex which once went all the way down to Casemates Square.It probably dates back to the early fourteenth century and battle scars of many a siege are visible.

Moorish Castle is open to tourists, although it doesnt keep any naughty villains there anymore. You can however see what the surroundings would have been like if you had been so unfortunate to have been left there for a few years!This can be seen on your way down or up from or to The Great Siege Tunnels...incorporate them into one trip, its much easier!

These gates form part of the old walls and fortifications that Gibraltar has had for hundreds of years under the various ones who ran the place at the time.
The original gates were built in 1551 and some in 1883 these I think are part of the newer ones.

It was around here also that a pirate called Barbarossa who attacked Gibraltar and captured many of its people to sell as slaves.

Alongside the gate are sentry boxes and also this plaque which says
"God and the solider all men adore in time of trouble and no more, for when war is over and all things righted God is neglected and the old soldier slighted".

Around the city are the old walls. Here is one of the entrances which is called Prince Edward Gate, it is in the wall called Charles V. The gate was created in 1790 and it overlooks the Trafalgar Cemetary.Named after the father of Queen Victoria who was governor of Gibraltar from 1802-1820.

The Moors are Moslem Arabs who came over to Spain and Gibraltar from Africa. For a long time they possessed great amounts of land on the Iberian peninsula.

Gibraltar was actually under Moorish possession for over 700 years for most of the time between 711 and 1462 (Spain briefly reconquered Gibraltar in the early 1300's).

This castle was built during Moorish times, with the objective of being able to watch (and I guess help to control) the Straits of Gibraltar.

Apparently this castle has the tallest keep and the tallest tower of any castle in the whole of Spain and Portugal. I find this a little surprising giver the quantity and size of the castles I have seen all over Spain (one of the regions in Spain is called Castilla - meaning Castle, due to the huge number of castles that exist there).

I believe this castle is currently undergoing renovation to help repair many many years of neglect.

Parsons Lodge is at Camp Bay. It sits high on a hill overlooking the straits of Gibraltar. Below the Lodge is the only natural bay in Gibraltar and for that reason it was fortified.
There are lots of underground tunnels at this Lodge.
Open 10.00am - 7.00pm every day except Mondays.
Admission is £2.00
Children £1.00

Nelsons Anchorage is the old port of Gibraltar, built by the Spanish in 1627 and also where Captain Nelson's body was brought ashore at Rosia Bay from his ship HMS Victory after the Battle of Trafalgar.Open 9.30 - 3.15pm Monday - Saturday
Last entry 5.00pm
Closed Sunday
Admission £1.00
(or included in the Nature Reserve Ticket)

In the late 18th century when the city was under siege from the Spanish, many people died not just from the fighting but from disease and this small museum on the rock tells of his history.

This was closed when we visited due to subsidance and I think it was said that renovation was going to be carried out.. The building dates from the 11th century and was huge in its time as it extended all the way down to Castment Square.

Not far from the Hotel one can still walk among the ruins of the WW ll bunkers which are located right on the beach and put up by Spain to fortify the area around Gibraltar.
Makes for eerie feelings.