The Pillars of Hercules
Gibraltar, Ceuta and Britain's Gateway to the Mediterranean
Tour Introduction
This tour examines how control of the Strait of Gibraltar shaped more than three millennia of military, maritime and political history. Staying throughout in Gibraltar, this fascinating six-night tour explores one of the world's greatest strategic crossroads, where Europe meets Africa and the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. We discover how the Rock evolved from the medieval fortress of Jabal Ṭāriq into one of the British Empire's most formidable military strongholds, exploring the remarkable Great Siege Tunnels, Victorian batteries, the vast World War Two tunnel complex and Nelson's historic anchorage at Rosia Bay. Crossing the Strait to North Africa, we examine the mighty fortifications of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, whose walls, bastions and forts guarded this vital maritime gateway for centuries. In Andalucía we follow Britain's campaign against Napoleonic France through the historic city of Cádiz, the battlefield of Barrosa and Cape Trafalgar, where Nelson secured his immortal victory in 1805. Combining spectacular scenery, outstanding military engineering, fascinating archaeology and more than three millennia of maritime, military and cultural history, this tour offers an exceptional insight into one of Europe's most strategically important and historically compelling regions.
Highlights
- Explore Gibraltar's extraordinary Great Siege and World War Two tunnels.
- Discover Ceuta, Europe's remarkable fortified enclave on the African coast.
- Visit Cádiz, Britain's vital Peninsular War stronghold against Napoleon.
- Stand overlooking Nelson's victory from the dramatic Cape Trafalgar.
- Examine colossal Victorian coastal artillery guarding the Mediterranean gateway.
- Uncover 3,000 years of military, maritime and cultural history.
"The fortress of Gibraltar is invaluable... a post of war, a post of power, a post of commerce."
Edmund Burke, December 1782
Tour Details
Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.
Professor Matthias Strohn
Prof. Matthias Strohn, M.St. (Oxon), DPhil (Oxon), FRHistS is the Head of the Historical Analysis Programme at the CHACR. He is also a Visiting Professor in Military Studies at the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Buckingham.
Matthias was educated at the universities of Münster (Germany) and Oxford. He holds a Master’s degree and a Doctorate from Oxford, and he was also awarded a level 7 degree in Strategic Management and Leadership from the Chartered Management Institute. Matthias is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Prior to joining CHACR, he worked in the War Studies Department at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and he also held a lectureship in Modern History at Oxford University.
Matthias is an expert in the history of war in the 20th century, with special interest in the World Wars, the inter-war period, command and leadership, the development of doctrine, and the application of military history in today’s military context. He has written and edited over 20 books and numerous articles, and his works were chosen as the core readings for Operation Reflect, the British Army’s commemoration of the First World War. Matthias is a frequent commentator on military history and current military affairs, and he has appeared on a wide range of media, ranging from TV documentaries and news channels to Europe’s largest tabloid newspaper. He is also a keen battlefield studies guide, and he has led military and civilian groups all over Europe, from Madrid to Stalingrad.
Matthias holds a commission in the German Army, and, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, is a member of the military attaché reserve, having served on the defence attaché staffs in London, Paris and Madrid. He also serves regularly with the German Military Delegation in the UK. Prior to this, he served as the Military History Instructor at the German Staff College in Hamburg where he also attended the German Armed Forces Staff Course (R). In 2019, he attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course (R) at the British Defence Academy as the second German Army officer ever selected. Matthias has got operational experience; he deployed to Iraq (with the British Army) and Afghanistan (with both the British Army and the German Bundeswehr). In 2022, Matthias was awarded the highest (non-combat) decoration of the German Armed Forces, the Golden Cross of Honour, in recognition of his services to the German Army and to Anglo-German defence relations.
Background
Few places have exercised a greater influence on European history than the Strait of Gibraltar. Known to the ancient Greeks as the Pillars of Hercules, this narrow channel between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea has served for more than three millennia as both a bridge and a barrier between Europe and Africa, controlling one of the world's most important maritime gateways. Dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar to the north and Monte Hacho above Ceuta to the south, it has shaped the movement of merchants, armies and empires since antiquity. The Phoenicians established trading settlements around the Strait from the ninth century BC, including Gades (modern Cádiz), before the Carthaginians crossed into Hispania under Hamilcar Barca in 237 BC. Under Roman rule, the Strait linked the provinces of Hispania and Mauretania, facilitating trade, administration and military movement across both shores of the Empire. Following the collapse of Roman authority, Vandals crossed into North Africa, while in AD 711 the forces of Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād landed beneath the mountain that still bears his name—Jabal Ṭāriq, from which Gibraltar derives its modern name. The emergence of the great Atlantic powers transformed the region once again, with Portugal, Spain and later Britain competing to command this strategic gateway. Gibraltar's cession to Great Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 secured its place as one of the British Empire's greatest fortress colonies. Today, its castles, fortresses, battlefields and archaeological sites preserve the legacy of more than three thousand years of conquest, commerce and cultural exchange, making the Strait of Gibraltar one of Europe's most fascinating historical landscapes.
What's Included
- Ground transport
- Return ferry crossing
- Dinner parties hosted by the expert historian and tour manager
- 4 Star Hotels
- Return flights from London (optional)
- Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
- Dedicated Tour Manager
- Expert historians throughout providing a daily variety of talks, presentations and Q&A
- The company of like-minded travelers
- Buffet breakfast each morning
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening
- Tour information booklet
- Access to the Cultural Experience app
Day 1: Arrival in Gibraltar
Day 1: Arrival in Gibraltar
Fly from London to Gibraltar Airport and transfer to our hotel, or if making your own travel arrangements meet us at the hotel. Gibraltar will be our base for the next six nights. (D)
Day 2: The Rock that Defied Europe
Day 2: The Rock that Defied Europe
Our exploration traces Gibraltar's transformation into one of Britain's greatest fortress colonies. Visiting Signal Hill; the Great Siege Tunnels; Princess Caroline's Battery; the Military Heritage Centre; the World War Two tunnel complex; and the Moorish Castle, we discover how successive generations adapted the Rock to command one of the world's most important maritime gateways. (B, D)
Day 3: Ceuta – Europe's African Fortress
Day 3: Ceuta – Europe's African Fortress
An early start to cross the Strait of Gibraltar by ferry and spend the day exploring the remarkable Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The Royal Walls; Mount Hacho Fortress; El Desnarigado Fort; and commanding views across the Strait reveal why rival powers contested this strategic maritime gateway for centuries. (B)
Day 4: Cádiz – The City Napoleon Could Not Take
Day 4: Cádiz – The City Napoleon Could Not Take
Today's excursion follows Britain's campaign in southern Spain during the Peninsular War. Exploring Cádiz's historic centre; the Matagorda Fortress; and the Museo El Dique, we discover how Britain's principal Spanish base resisted the French siege and became a cornerstone of Allied strategy. (B, D)
Day 5: Guns of Empire
Day 5: Guns of Empire
Today's exploration examines Gibraltar's Victorian defences and enduring naval heritage. Through Magdala Battery and its colossal 100-ton Armstrong gun; Harding's Battery; Rosia Bay, where Nelson's body was brought ashore after Trafalgar; Trafalgar Cemetery; and the Garrison Library, we discover how the Rock safeguarded Britain's command of the Mediterranean. (B, D)
Day 6: Tarifa, Barrosa and Trafalgar
Day 6: Tarifa, Barrosa and Trafalgar
Our final excursion examines the campaign that secured British command of southern Spain and the seas beyond. Visiting Tarifa; the battlefield of Barrosa; and Cape Trafalgar, where Nelson's victory transformed naval history, we conclude the story of Britain's struggle for mastery of the Strait of Gibraltar. (B, D)
Day 7: Departure
Day 7: Departure
Depart hotel for Gibraltar Airport for the return flight to London unless you have made your own travel arrangements. (B)