Rock of Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar is a 426-metre limestone promontory at the southern tip of the Gibraltar peninsula, a British Overseas Territory at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

Key visitor highlights include panoramic viewpoints over the Strait of Gibraltar, a network of historic fortifications and tunnels, and accessible natural caves. The site is also known for a small, free-ranging population of Barbary macaques which live on the upper slopes.

The Rock has long been fortified because of its strategic position overlooking the narrow passage between Europe and Africa. Fortifications, gun batteries and military tunnels were constructed and expanded over several centuries by successive rulers, and many of these features are now visitor attractions.

The Rock sits at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. The town of Gibraltar lies on its western and southern slopes; the promontory marks the boundary between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

• Height: The summit reaches about 426 metres above sea level and forms a dominant limestone promontory at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula.
• Barbary macaques: Home to a resident population of wild Barbary macaques, the only wild monkey population on the European side of the Mediterranean that is regularly seen by visitors.
• Visitor access: A cable car runs from the town to the upper slopes, and many visitor trails and viewpoints are concentrated within the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.

What to See #

• Upper Rock Nature Reserve: A protected area covering much of the limestone promontory above the town, managed as the Upper Rock Nature Reserve and home to several visitor sites and walking paths.
• St Michael's Cave: A show cave open to visitors with large chambers and occasional cultural events hosted in the main chamber; it is one of the more-visited cave sites on the Rock.
• Great Siege Tunnels: A series of 18th- and 19th-century artillery positions and tunnels originally expanded during sieges and later conflicts, accessible to visitors as part of the fortifications tour.
• Moorish Castle: A historic fortress complex with Moorish and medieval elements located on the slopes of the Rock; visitors can see walls and towers that reflect the site's long military role.
• Europa Point: The southern tip of the Rock, overlooking the meeting of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and offering views across the Strait of Gibraltar toward North Africa.