Moorish Castle

The Moorish Castle stands on the slope above Gibraltar town, and its Tower of Homage, rebuilt in the fourteenth century on earlier work, is the oldest substantial structure on the Rock, put up when this was a Muslim fortress guarding the strait. The walls carry the marks of repeated sieges. From the tower the town, the bay and the Spanish coast are laid out below. The castle complex once ran much further down the slope, and fragments of its lower walls survive among later building.

Background

The castle is a group of medieval buildings, gateways and walls, and its two main features are the Gate House and the Tower of Homage. Work began in the 8th century AD, possibly in 711, and its completion date is unrecorded. Most of what stands now, the Tower of Homage included, was rebuilt in the early 14th century, and the castle is attributed to the Marinid dynasty. Its plan took in an inner and outer keep, a qasbah, the Villa Vieja and a port at Barcina, entered through gates such as the Gate of Granada. Part of the castle held Gibraltar's prison until 2010, and it appears on the back of the 1995 design of the five-pound note.

Source: Wikipedia, "Moorish Castle"

What to look for

• The Tower of Homage - the fourteenth-century keep, the oldest building on the Rock.
• The siege damage - the marks of repeated bombardment on the walls.
• The town view - Gibraltar and the bay laid out below.
• The Moorish origin - a fortress from the period the Rock was Muslim.

When to go

April to October is the mild season. The site is included in the Nature Reserve ticket. Summer afternoons are hot on the exposed walls.

Practical notes

Access is through the Nature Reserve ticket rather than separately. Interior display is limited. The climb up from the town is steep.

Nearby

Main Street is below, and the Northern Defences are alongside.

Key facts