Europa Point, Gibraltar

Europa Point on the Rock of Gibraltar is the southernmost point on Gibraltar

We visited Europa Point in 1991, the southernmost point on Gibraltar.

At the southern end of the Rock of Gibraltar is a flat area occupied by features such as a playing field and a scattering of buildings.

On a clear day, but not for us, there is a good view across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco, North Africa. We are told you can see Rif Mountains of Morocco. You can see around the Bay of Gibraltar and the Spanish towns on its coastline.

There are three notable buildings here: the new Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, the Roman Catholic shrine of Our Lady of Europe, and the Europa Point Lighthouse.

Historically Europa Point was linked with the Eastern side of the Rock, including the area of Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay, by the Dudley Ward Tunnel, which was closed for safety reasons in 2002, after a fatal rock fall.

The Europa Point Lighthouse

The lighthouse was built on the instruction of Governor Sir Alexander Woodford between 1838 and 1841.

The light was fully automated February 1994 and its light can be seen over a distance of over 25 km. 

The Europa Point Lighthouse is the southernmost lighthouse for which the UK's Trinity House is responsible, as well as being the only one outside UK waters!