Moorish Castle

A reminder of the Moorish occupation of Gibraltar, by far its longest in history.

Strategically important through the ages, the Moorish invasion of Europe started from Gibraltar in 711, a conquest lead by Tarik Ibn Ziyad. In fact, the name Gibraltar is believed to be a derivation of Djebel Tarik, or Rock of Tarik.

Though little is known about the castle, some claim that is dates from 742 and that its foundations were laid by Tarik himself. We do know that in 1068, the Arab Governor of Algeciras – a city over the border in Spain – ordered that a fort be built on Gibraltar to keep an eye on what was happening on the Straits at the gateway to the Mediterranean.

The Moorish Castle Complex is made up of various buildings, gates, fortified walls and its most dominant feature, the Tower of Homage which dominates the bay of Gibraltar.

Around the Tower, lie the Inner Keep and the Outer Keep. West of the Keeps lies The Casbah with its famous and unique Gate House.

From the Moorish Castle, stroll down the path towards the top of the Old Town, a warren of streets perched on the steep sides of the Rock. See map.

Please not that the Moorish Castle is currently closed to the public.