La Línea de la Concepción, Municipality in Cádiz province, Spain
La Línea de la Concepción is a municipality in Cádiz province at the southern tip of Spain, situated on a narrow strip of land between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic directly next to Gibraltar. The urban area extends along the bay, with residential neighborhoods on one side and port infrastructure on the other side of the center.
Spanish forces built fortifications here in the 18th century during repeated sieges of Gibraltar and established a military camp. The settlement gained independence from San Roque in 1870 and grew into a border town with its own administration.
The name refers to the Spanish defensive lines once built facing Gibraltar, now replaced by a modern border crossing facility. Local shops often price goods in both currencies and multilingual signage reflects daily encounters with British visitors.
The border crossing can cause longer waiting times during peak hours, especially mornings and evenings on weekdays. The center is walkable and the beach promenade runs parallel to the coast eastward.
This is the only land route between mainland Spain and Gibraltar, crossed daily by thousands of workers commuting in both directions. People often queue at the border to collect cigarettes and other goods from Gibraltar or to shop there.
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