Maze of the Week #230 - The Rock of Gibraltar

Maze of the Week #230 takes us to Gibraltar and it’s famous Rock of Gibraltar. Did you know the rock is full of tunnels that are described as labyrinth like ? That’s a good enough reason for me to visit. They have been excavated many times throughout history, always for military purposes. Today, you can visit many of them for tourism.

There are many ways to go to learn about the rock, it’s turbulent history, it’s use during WW2, but I’m going to go with this short overview by well known traveler Rick Steves:

The maze: Mostly black and white with an exception for the plant life that looks too much like an amoeba is not properly colored IMO. Because of the tight walls for the rock formations, the Start/Goal is designated by the letters S and G.

Download is available on the home page. Happy Maze-ing !

Other blog posts you may enjoy:

• What I've Learned Making Mazes

• 10 of the Most Frequently asked Questions about Labyrinths, with Answers

Movies with the word Labyrinth in the title

You know the movie has the word Labyrinth in the title, but you aren’t quite sure what the full title is. I can help. I have pulled together the most popular movies with labyrinth in the title. I’ll give you a description, a poster, some information about it and from a few a link to my review of the movie. If the movie contains a maze or labyrinth as part of the story, I will watch and review the movie for this website. You may also like the post 13 Movies with the word Maze in the title if you don’t find what you are looking for here ! People get mazes and labyrinths mixed up all the time.

Labyrinth (1986) - (IMDB) (My review).

This is the first movie I think about. We get David Bowie as the Goblin King, who has taken Jennifer Connelly’s little brother into a fantasy world. To get him back she must solve a labyrinth in time. Along the way we get to meet many puppets from the mind of Jim Henson and we get some singing from Bowie.

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) - (IMDB) (My review).

Also known as “El laberinto del fauno”, this is the best film in the list - it won over 109 awards, including 3 Oscars. It was directed by Guillermo del Toro and takes place in Spain in 1944 and follows a girl who escapes to a fantasy world.

Into the Labyrinth (2019) - (IMDB) (My review).

Starring Dustin Hoffman and based on a book by Donato Carrisi, this crime drama should be watched closely (put down your phone/tablet). A young girl is kidnapped, escapes and is in the hospital recovering. What happened ? And by the end you will be googling just that if you don’t pay attention ! A crime drama that keeps you thinking !

Labyrinth (2002) - (IMDB).

A Serbian film about a man who is haunted by the death of his friend by suicide. Cool labyrinth in the poster.

Labyrinth of Lies (2014) - (IMDB).

A German film that shows how a variety of institutions tried to cover up Nazi war crimes over a decade after the war is cover. While I did not write a formal review of this movie, I have seen it, and it is worth seeing. I am not surprised that it has won many awards.

Labyrinth of Passion (1982) - (IMDB).

A Spanish film by the renowned director Pedro Almodóvar. Chances are that is enough for you to know if you will like this film about 4 interesting characters and how they interact. What do I mean by “interesting” characters - how about a nymphomaniac, a gay terrorist, an emporer’s son, and the daughter of a dry cleaner.

The Labyrinth (2017) - (IMDB).

A movie that interweaves 8 different stories about life. James Franco is the narrator.

Labyrinth (2011) - (IMDB). A Turkish movie.

A Turkish intelligence team tries to stop a terrorist organization in Istanbul while working with the US and UK.

Eye in the Labyrinth (1972) - (IMDB) (My review).

An Italian horror-mystery that follows a woman searching for her missing lover. Go to the police ? You are a regular person, why not just open your own investigation (movies) ! People start getting murdered at the seaside resort you are at. No problem ! You can often find this dubbed into English if subtitles aren’t your thing.

Labyrinth of Cinema (2019) - (IMDB).

A Japanese time travel movie that stars Tadanobu Asano. The time travel takes place…inside a movie theatre and sends the patrons to different historical points in Japanese history ! I should warn you it is 3 hours long.

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles (2018) - (IMDB).

A Spanish 2D animation movie that is for adults (TV-14) and that won many movie awards. Tells the story of a part of the life of Luis Buñuel when he was struggling to make a movie and tells about his relationships with Salvador Dalí and sculptor Ramón Acín during this time. The classic movie about making a movie.

Labyrinth of Dreams (1997) - (IMDB).

A second Japanese movie that stars Tadanobu Asano, this time about a bus serial killer (I phrased that incorrectly but kept it just because I like the idea of a serial killer going around killing buses?). A woman tries to solve a mystery of who killed her friend, a bus conductor, and suspects Niitaka (Asano). Is he the serial killer ?

UPDATE: 2 new movies came out in 2025 with the same title of Labyrinth. One is a horror movie, while the other is Japanese anime. Since they are the newest movies with the title I though they should be included here.

Labyrinth (2025) - (IMDB)

This horror movie, directed by Ryûhei Kitamura does not have much information available, but it does have a very nice movie poster ! It also has a premise that I would like - “A group of strangers are brought together to be judged for their past transgressions in a facility where they must run a gauntlet of deadly challenges” (from IMDB). This seems like the kind of movie I will watch (if I ever find it).

Labyrinth (2025) - (IMDB)

A Japanese anime film directed by Shôji Kawamori about getting trapped in a phone….and brain rot ? Interesting. This is another movie that is hard to find, but if I can find it, I will be watching it !

Still didn’t find the movie you were looking for ? I suggest you check out my list of maze and labyrinth movies.

Similar posts you may like:

What are 10 best maze movie posters ?

The 10 best maze horror movies ?

How to Make a 7 Circuit Caerdroia Labyrinth

In this post I will show you how to draw a 7 circuit Caerdroia labyrinth. I first became aware of this type of labyrinth, a variation of the Cretan labyrinth, when I saw it in the film, The Night House, which has a maze theme weaved into the storyline. This type of labyrinth is Welsh and they were used for gatherings of singing and dancing. To learn more about them check out Wikipedia.

How to Draw a 7 Circuit Caerdroia Labyrinth

Step 1 Draw the seed pattern

I came up with 2 possible seed patterns for this. The first is based on the classical 7 seed labyrinth and adjusted for the unique shape of this labyrinth. You can see this below in black overlaid onto the complete labyrinth in red. It uses a center cross (in this case offset), 4 L’s and 4 dots just like that seed uses.

The step by step instructions will use this seed, however there is another seed option I will review below.

Step 1 - Draw the seed pattern

I think of all of them labyrinths I have drawn this one is best made using a grid to guide your drawing. Here is the seed pattern shown against a blue grid. I also added a single green line that is only used for the arches across the top of the labyrinth.

Step 2 Note the Connection points

All seeds become labyrinths by connecting one point to another around the entire shape. For a 7 circuit you will need to make 8 connections as labeled below.

Step 2 Note the connections

Step 3 Note the location of the peaks and shape changes

In the northern part of the labyrinth, you have all circular pathways, and all of them have a peak that is centered between the first connection points (also centered above the center goal).

In the southern part of the labyrinth you have a square labyrinth. This portion of the labyrinth fills bottom half and a half step above the seed (this is an aesthetic choice by me - you may also use the seed as the point of shape change if you prefer)

Step 3 Location and shape changes

Step 4 Draw and connect the pathways to create the labyrinth

After all the explanation above, connect the same numbered pathways to create the labyrinth. Connections 1-5 require (mostly) the drawing of semi-circles, while 6-8 require pathway extensions before drawing the semicircles.

Connect the pathways in order from left to right. Here are the connections drawn using different colored arrows:

Here is the labyrinth being made with the grids shown which may help. Again the green line is only used for the peak of the top side arches.

That completes the labyrinth, BUT let’s look at the other seed I mentioned above.

ALTERNATIVE Step 1 Draw the seed pattern

To simplify the connection drawing this seed requires only the drawing of semicircles, but a much larger seed which looks more like a very wide tree. There are still 8 connections to make, but they are more uniform. Just make sure you align all of their transition points from square shaped to circular shaped.

All other step are basically the same, with just the drawing of your walls changing since you did more upfront work ! Either method ends with this final drawn version of the 7 circuit Caerdroia labyrinth.

(OPTIONAL) STEP 5 Make any Aesthetic Changes

You can make many aesthetic choices for this labyrinth.

You have options for the wall to pathway ratio. Below I made them equal with gives the labyrinth a bolder look. The display of corners is also a choice (I chose soft curved edges below vs. sharp corners above). And finally, how the ends of lines will look (I chose rounded vs squared). Personally, I prefer this bolder look. You can also add some color if you prefer.

That concludes our instructions. Good luck in making your own design !

One thing that is difficult to find is a real world example of this type of labyrinth in the US. However if you are ever in Wales check out the Caerdroia, Gwydir Forest which contains a labyrinth built into the woods. You can plan your trip and get more information at the link above.

Additional posts you might like:

Maze Construction - 5 Maze Design Decisions Make All the Difference

US Labyrinths to visit by state

10 of the Most Frequently asked Questions about Labyrinths, with Answers

How to Draw a Large 19 Circuit Square Labyrinth

Previously I’ve shown you how to draw an 11 circuit square labyrinth, a 7 circuit square labyrinth and a 3 circuit square labyrinth. Today we review making any large square labyrinth with the only limit to size the one you choose. Below is a 19 circuit square labyrinth, but you can make one larger if you choose. Here are the sections of the post after this introduction:

PART 1: STEP BY STEP LABYRINTH DRAWING INSTRUCTIONS

PART 2: ADDITIONAL SIZES DISCUSSION

PART 1: STEP BY STEP LABYRINTH DRAWING INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: The starting seed pattern

The starting seed pattern to the right is based on an imaginary 6x6 box grid. This seed can become an 11 circuit labyrinth by following the typical construction steps (and it could be both a classic or a square labyrinth). The simple way to make a larger version is to extend the lines additional blocks in all directions to create a larger seed. See below (with 2 new levels making it a 10x10 grid):

Large seed pattern

Step 2: Connect the firstline to create the goal

Draw a boxed line from the top of the plus sign to the L directly to the right using that extends 1 grid high. This line will form what will become the goal of the labyrinth.

Step 3: Connect the next endpoint to the left to the next endpoint on the right

Every step from now on will be basically the same. Move one point to your left (moving counterclockwise) and connect that to the next point on the right (moving clockwise). In this case the large backwards L on the top left of the seed pattern to the small L on the top right of the seed.

Steps 4-21: Connect the next endpoint to the left to the next endpoint on the right

I assume you have the pattern down to complete with only pictures with nice red lines. Follow the graphics to complete steps 4-20. Here is the Summary of the connections you will make starting from the seed:

Steps 6 - 21

That completes the drawing of a massive 19 Circuit Square Labyrinth. And now you can go even bigger !

19 Circuit Square Labyrinth

PART 2: ADDITIONAL SIZES DISCUSSION

Making a square labyrinth once you know the seed pattern and how to connect the ends is relatively easy. Here are the first 6 seed patterns and what size labyrinth they make. Each time you add a new layer to the seed you are adding 4 circuits. This is because a layer includes a back and forth on both sides of the structure.

If you prefer more flexibility with the number of circuits, I suggest you use the large center alternative which allows you to make any number of circuits. Here is the same center, but made into 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 circuit labyrinth versions:

Normally this is where I add real world examples of labyrinths so you can see what you just learned done in practice in the real world. However, in my research, of the over 4K labyrinths in the US, the largest in terms of circuits is 15, and there are only 3 of them. Really any circuits over 11 are rare to find in the real world, but you can still draw them ! Here is a chart showing my research:

Additional blog posts you might enjoy:

10 of the Most Frequently asked Questions about Labyrinths, with Answers

The 8 best books about mazes, labyrinths and their history

If you prefer making labyrinths, you can find step by step labyrinth making instructions for over 20 different versions.