Where to Go Cartagena - Cabo Tinosa (The Guns)

The Gun batteries at Cabo Tinosa, La Azohia, between  Mazarron and Cartagena.

 

La Bateria de Castillitos

La Bateria del Jorel 

These two battery emplacements are well worth a visit, whether you have any interest in military history or not, and are a great place to take the visitors, offering stunning views, interesting architecture and fabulous great guns which make wonderful holiday photographs.

 They were constructed between 1926 and 1933 as part of a sophisticated defence network which aimed to protect Cartagena and its' important military arsenal.

 

44 elements covered every angle of attack and batteries were constructed in a ring which encircled Cartagena and out along the coast as part of the Plan de Defensa of 1926.

The location at Cabo Tinoso was chosen because of its' strategic location, 218 metres above the sea on a rocky cliff top with easily defendable access, and Vickers guns, made in the UK, which were  the best in the world for anti-shipping defence at this time, were situated at this point, giving a 35km firing range.

There are 2 different batteries at Cabo Tinoso, La bateria del Jorel, which houses three 1923 model Vickers 152.4mm, 45 calibre anti-shipping guns, and the Bateria de Castillitos which has the enormous Vickers 381mm guns still in place, measuring 17 metres in length, which could fire a projectile weighing a ton over a distance of 35 km

 

Part of the excitement in visiting the batteries is that these enormous guns are still in situ, bar one of the Vickers 152.4mm guns which was dismantled and removed to Almeria during the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil war.

The big guns of Castillitos were only ever fired once in action against Nationalist forces in April 1937, but the knowledge of the havoc they could wreak was enough of a deterrent to ensure that they were not required to take part in further combat, and with time they were rendered obsolete, these 2 military installations finally going out of service in 1994 when the Plan Norte modernized and rationalized the Spanish armed forces.

Sadly, today they are left for the seagulls and the vandals, and it is heartbreaking to see the identification silhouettes of enemy vessels being defaced by mindless graffiti and the noble guns plastered with pointless tags .

 

Hopefully someone somewhere in the tourist dept will realise the importance of conserving these unique remains and prevent further deterioration and vandalism from destroying this special site.

 

There are several factors which make a trip up to "the guns" as they are popularly called by the local population, such an enjoyable trip - the stunning scenery, the excitement of the guns themselves, and the bizarre architecture.

Although these fortifications have a serious military purpose, and were deliberately built using naturally rocky formations that would render them invisible from sea, the builders of the time just couldn't help embracing the modernist eclecticism that was so fashionable in Cartagena at the time the fortifications were constructed and built an almost Disneyesque construction with fantasy turrets and ice cream gun towers, which is not only a real joy to explore, but makes great holiday photos as well.

How many visitors to Murcia have been snapped on top of, wrapped around, or peering into one of these magnificent Vickers Guns, and certainly the youngsters were having a great time posing on top of the Castillitos Vickers 381's on New Years day, in fact it was so busy up there that it was hard to get a photo without half of Murcia in it!

A warning to those who are proposing to visit with young children-politically correct  British Health and Safety officials would have the builders of this place dug up and shot for good measure, as there are many places where unsupervised youngsters could come to grief, and some of the buildings are in a bit of a state, so be careful where they run around and watch out for the edges of the road walking up between batteries

This scribbler has a complete terror of unguarded heights and there are a couple of places at the batteries that have me shrinking, so although most of it is perfectly safe, just take care and watch out for the kids.

 

Those with a steely disposition and lots of energy may enjoy exploring the anti aircraft battery on the right hand side just before arriving at the 2 batteries, which occupy the highest point and have fabulous views across Castillitos and Jorel.

We drove up the track, but this shrinking violet had to get out and walk the last 100 metres as the sheer drop off the roadside was too much for a nervous disposition, although the other part of the family did a 3 point turn on the way down to show it was perfectly safe, but then he flies hang-gliders so he thinks throwing himself off cliffs with bits of plastic strapped to his back is fun.

 

The more sensible and fit may prefer to walk up, the views are astonishing.

 These two photos we have found show the guns being dragged up to the cenizas battery in Cartagena , which has the same Vickers 381's as Cabo Tinoso and the El Jorel battery actually firing. You can visit the Cenizas battery and La Chapa, where the twin pair of guns are located.Click La Chapa, La Chapa and Cenizas, Click Cenizas.

Although those who don't wish to walk too much can still enjoy visiting the site, it is uneven and rocky and can be hard work if you have severe physical difficulties, but saying that, it is possible to park by the "front door" of the Castillitos Battery and walk up the small gun turret for a good experience, or if you drive on up past that front entrance, there is excellent flat parking on top and someone in a wheelchair could thoroughly enjoy this top section, look down into the "fairy castle" area and get right up next to the big guns without too much difficulty.

This section is a great place for a picnic, as you really are on top of the world and the views are fantastic.

 

There are no facilities of any sort, so bring everything, and the nearest toilets are several kilometers down in the bottom of the valley at the little neighbourhood social centre in Campillo de Adentro where refreshments and Bocadillos can be obtained either on the way up or down.

 

How to Get There Cabo Tinoso Cartagena

Practicalities.

Directions.

The guns are at Cabo Tiñoso,, which is accessed from the E16 Puerto de Mazarron- Cartagena Road.

From Puerto de Mazarron hug the coast past the lighthouse roundabout, through Isla Plana , and out the other side, but carry on straight past the turning for La Azohia and continue to head for Cartagena. A little past the La Azohia turning, you will see a sign for Campillo de Adentro. Take this right hand turn and just keep going for several km along the bottom of the valley and then you'll climb right up to the top, twisting and turning up to the batteries. It's a good few km, and the roads are good, if a little twisty and narrow.

As you're driving up, think of the people back in the 1920's who had to build all this without the assistance of a JCB. The dock in La Azohia, which today is so well used by pleasure boaters to launch from, was built especially to bring in the guns, and every scrap of material used in the construction had to be hauled up this hill.

 

Finally you'll arrive at a military no entry point, but just ignore this, and when reaching a fork in the road, take the left hand option which leads up to the batteries. The road does become gravel once you arrive at the batteries, so if you're nervous or don't want to go any further stop, but it is perfectly safe to drive all the way up to the guns themselves if you want to.

Update Mid March 2010.

The council are starting to improve the area, add parking and build better access ramps, so be careful when going up there in the week as there are council construction workers on site.

 Click for Campillo de Adentro

There are no opening hours , no personnel on-site, and no facilities.

 

Catering- Bring everything. There are some excellent menu del dias available in Isla Plana and La Azohia, together with lots of nice cafes and places to enjoy a drink afterwards.

A popular , atmospheric stopoff is the Antipodas in La Azohia. Once you rejoin the main road, turn left and go along the coast to La Azohia,and you'll find the Antipodas at the far end. Click Antipodas

 

Avoid really windy days, this site is very high up and is not a good place on a very cold, windy day.

 

Would we recommend it?

For those of a nervous disposition, nervous drivers or poor mobility, no.

For everyone else, absolutely.

 

The Military trail, Cartagena.

Several pieces of machinery from this battery can be found at the Military Museum, Museo Militar in Cartagena, and it's really interesting to trace back Cartagena's Military past. There are many places around the area which link together, and we'll be adding to this list on an ongoing basis over the next few months, so have a look at these other places which all form the Cartagena Military trail. Some are paid, some are free, but it's great fun to find them all and discover Cartagenas' military history. 

Castillo de la Concepcion- Mediaeval construction, with cannons and excellent views, Castillo de Concepcion.

Fuerte de Navidad, Cartagena, part of the O'Donnell Fortifications, via Navantia shipyards, Fuerte de Navidad

Museo Militar - Home of the military museum, containing many important items of local military interest. Museo Militar

Cabo de Tinosa batteries, between Mazarron and Cartagena, Bateria de Castillitos and El Jorel

Civil war Shelter , Cartagena Refugio de la Guerra Civil

La Chapa, Portman Bay, Click La Chapa

The Cenizas Battery, behind the La Manga Club, Cartagena, Click Cenizas

Visiting the gun emplacements at Cabo tinoso is just one suggestion for things you can enjoy as part of a visit to Cartagena Spain.

Use the search functions on the left hand side of the page to find other interesting things to do in Cartagena.For concerts, exhibitions, art, music and fiestas, click here for what's on. Each week we post information about events taking place across the whole of the region of Murcia, as well as producing this static information about places you can visit.

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