Of historical interest is the 1805 naval Battle of Trafalgar, in which the Royal Navy commanded by Admiral Horatio Nelson decisively defeated Napoleon's combined Spanish and French fleet, took place off the cape.
What could be more British and busy than Trafalgar Square in London? Not so along this sleepy stretch of Atlantic coastline. Cape Trafalgar in Spain, which is popular among locals and an occasional covey of tourists is just plain dull in the light of day or night. To be kind, let’s say Cape Trafalgar sedate and sandy.
The word Trafalgar is of Arabic origin, which means edge or extremity and refers to a promontory.
Planned by Eduardo Saavedra in 1857 it was the only lighthouse between Cadiz with Tarifa prior to the construction of the Caraminal and Roche lighthouses. It pretty much set the standard look for lighthouses ever since.
Built atop a tapering tower like a Roman column, the light is 34 metres high, but its early fragility meant that it was later reinforced with vertical buttresses that give it its singular appearance. It has an adjoining building where the lighthouse keepers live.
It was lit in 1862 with a range of 19 miles, using a blend of oil and petrol as fuel. A new project for the light was installed in 1923, extending the range of the light to 29 miles. A circular radio beacon was installed in 1973 which was later electrified.
BREAKING NEWS. Yes, a 159-year-old lighthouse can have its 15 minutes of fame. That happened in May, 2021 when archeologists digging in the sand around the Cape Trafalgar lighthouse found nearby ruins of a Roman era bathhouse. Quite the discovery because the remains were well preserved.
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| Roman bath house ruins discovered on Cape Trafalgar beach [3 more blog images continue below] |
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| Monument (170 ft. tall) by William Railton in Trafalgar Square in London built 1843 to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson. |
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