When was the lighthouse at Europa Point in Gibraltar built?
Short answer
The lighthouse at Europa Point in Gibraltar was built in 1841 and first lit on 1 August that year. It was opened to the public for the first time at a ceremony on 17 September 2026.
Detailed answer
Europa Point Lighthouse, also known as the Trinity Lighthouse, was completed in 1841 and first lit on 1 August the same year. Its foundation stone had been laid three years earlier, on 26 April 1838, by the Governor of Gibraltar, Sir Alexander Woodford. The lighthouse was vested in Trinity House by an Act of Parliament of 1838, and Trinity House still operates it as a working aid to navigation. Standing at Gibraltar's southernmost tip, it overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar, guiding vessels between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. On 17 September 2026 the lighthouse was officially opened to the public at a ceremony attended by Trinity House's Deputy Master and Gibraltar's Acting Deputy Governor. The Gibraltar Heritage Trust now runs tours and events at the site on behalf of Trinity House.