Explore Gibraltar's military history

Gibraltar is famed for its giant Rock, jutting out of the sea, and the Barbary monkeys that live at its summit.

But Gibraltar also has a fascinating history regarding its involvement in several wars and sieges, because of its strategic importance.

There are plenty of exhibitions and sights on the island that would appeal to many more people than just the history buff.

During a visit to Gibraltar, sights that are worth checking out include the Great Siege Tunnels, batteries and magazines dug out into the Rock, the 100 Ton Gun and the World War Tunnels.

A visit to the Military Heritage Centre, which is housed in Princess Caroline's Battery, is carved into the Rock and is one of the many architectural features that date back as early as 1732.

A tour around the centre gives a stark insight into the conditions soldiers endured hundreds of years ago, with displays of weapons and armour used by soldiers from the British Army who were posted on Gibraltar, as well as relics dating from the Great Siege of 1779.

Much that is of interest on Gibraltar is wrapped up in that famous siege, and the famous and labyrinthine Great Siege Tunnels are a masterpiece of engineering.

The tunnels, carved through the inside of the Rock, were an effective defence system to stave off attacks from the French and Spanish troops for four years from 1779.

A tour around the tunnels gives a real sense of the claustrophobia soldiers must have felt, and the walls are daubed with graffiti left their by troops who were on guard, who drew to keep themselves awake during their shifts.

Another feat and tribute to the willpower of man can be found in the World War Two tunnels, which were built in 1940 by the British, to repel attacks from Germany and Italy.

Opened in 2005, the tunnels have been a hit with tourists, who can walk around and admire the handiwork of Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle.

For more information on military exhibits in Gibraltar, visit www.gibraltar.gi
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