Trinity House has partnered with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust to open Europa Point Lighthouse to the public.
Further to the six lighthouses that Trinity House opens to the public around England and Wales, Europa Point Lighthouse—as one of Gibraltar’s most recognisable landmarks—has been a much-requested addition.
The lighthouse was officially opened to the public during a ceremony on 17 September by Trinity House’s Deputy Master Rear Admiral Iain Lower CB and Acting Deputy Governor of Gibraltar Marc Holland.
Visitors to the lighthouse will have the opportunity to join a guided tour that ascends the circular tower’s spiral staircase to the lantern area, from where the group can enjoy a panoramic view of the spectacular Strait of Gibraltar, the meeting place of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
The visitor experience has been designed to include multimedia interpretation and guided storytelling that highlights the lighthouse’s role as a marine aid to navigation at the gateway to the Mediterranean. The history of the lighthouse goes back to 1841, when Trinity House built the station.
Rear Admiral Iain Lower CB, Deputy Master of Trinity House, added: “We are delighted to respond to the Gibraltarian community’s request to open Europa Point Lighthouse to visitors. The station is a significant part of the story of Gibraltar and we are pleased to partner with the Gibraltar Heritage trust to make this a reality.”
Claire Montado, CEO of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, added: “This is a very special moment for the Gibraltar Heritage Trust and the culmination of a great deal of work to open up one of Gibraltar’s most iconic landmarks in a meaningful and sustainable way. Europa Point Lighthouse is both a working aid to navigation and an important part of our shared heritage, and we are enormously proud that Trinity House has entrusted us with the opportunity to help tell its story not just to visitors but to our local community. This has been a genuinely collaborative project, and we would like to thank Trinity House, HM Government of Gibraltar and Wright Tech Media, together with everyone who has worked behind the scenes to bring us to this point. We are very excited to see this next chapter in the life of the lighthouse begin.”
The new attraction is operated by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust and marketed locally as ‘Gibraltar Lighthouse’.
To find out more about visiting the lighthouse, please visit the Gibraltar Heritage Trust website.
Image: Trinity House’s Deputy Master Rear Admiral Iain Lower CB and Acting Deputy Governor of Gibraltar Marc Holland
NOTES
Trinity House
Trinity House is a maritime safety and welfare organisation that works for the benefit and safety of all mariners as a General Lighthouse Authority and maritime charity.
Gibraltar Heritage Trust
The Gibraltar Heritage Trust is an independent statutory body entrusted with the preservation of Gibraltar’s heritage and aims to work in partnership with all like-minded bodies, both locally and internationally.