Moorish Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Moorish Castle |
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| Part of Fortifications of Gibraltar | |
| Extends from the Gibraltar Nature Reserve to Grand Casemates Square in Gibraltar | |
The Moorish Castle's Tower of Homage in Gibraltar flying the Union flag.
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 The Moorish Castle
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| Coordinates | 36°08′38″N 5°20′59″W / 36.143882°N 5.349857°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Height | Approx. 100 metres (330 ft) |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Gibraltar |
| Controlled by | Moors: 711–1309 Castilians: 1309—1333 Moors: 1333–1462 Castilians: 1462–1704 Habsburgs: 1704–1713 British: 1713–present |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Partially ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | c. 711 |
| In use | c. 711–1945 |
The Moorish Castle is a very old fortress in Gibraltar. It includes many buildings, gates, and strong walls. The most famous parts are the Tower of Homage and the Gate House. This castle is special because it was built by the Marinid dynasty, which makes it unique in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).
The Tower of Homage is easy to spot for anyone visiting Gibraltar. It stands out because of its strong build and its important location. Part of the castle used to be a prison until 2010.
Contents
History of the Moorish Castle
Gibraltar has always been important to many different groups of people throughout history. This includes early humans like Neanderthals, and later, the Moors, Spanish, and British.
The Moors ruled Gibraltar for a very long time. They were in charge from 711 to 1309, and then again from 1333 to 1462. This adds up to 727 years!
How the Moors Arrived
The Moorish conquest of Spain began with leaders like Tariq ibn Ziyad and Musa ibn Nusayr. They might have first landed in Europe near Gibraltar. This made Gibraltar a key starting point for the Moors to take over most of Spain and parts of France. This amazing feat took only 21 years, which was very fast considering how far they traveled without modern transport.
Why Gibraltar Was Important
Gibraltar became even more important in the later years of Moorish rule. After the Spanish took back the Guadalquivir valley, Gibraltar was a vital link. It connected the Moorish kingdom of Granada with other Moorish lands in North Africa.
Building the Castle
Construction of the Moorish Castle started around 711 AD. We don't know exactly when it was finished. Its strong walls covered a large area, stretching from the top of the Rock of Gibraltar all the way down to the sea. The most noticeable parts of the castle today are the tall Tower of Homage and the large Gate House with its dome-shaped roof.
The Tower of Homage: A Key Part of the Castle
The Tower of Homage is the tallest tower from the time of Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula. The castle's main fortress, called the Qasbah, is also the largest in the area.
The castle played a big role in the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. Muslim forces quickly took over a large part of the region in just two years. This invasion led to Islamic control over parts of western Europe for more than seven centuries. Because of this, the Moorish Castle is historically important not just for Gibraltar and Iberia, but for all of western Europe.
Most of the Tower of Homage and the castle you see today were rebuilt in the early 14th century. This happened after the Moors took Gibraltar back from Spanish forces who had occupied it from 1309 to 1333.
The Moorish Castle Today
Today, the Moorish Castle is one of Gibraltar's main attractions for tourists. You can even see it on the back of the five-pound banknote from Gibraltar, which was designed in 1995 and is still used.
The name "Moorish Castle" (or "El Castillo" in Spanish) is also used by local people. It refers to the neighborhood around the castle, known as the Moorish Castle Estate.
As mentioned, part of the castle used to be a prison. However, the prison was moved to a new location in 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo Morisco para niños
