Sants-Montjuïc

Like many other lighthouses, the one on Montjuïc still retains a romantic aura which attracts aficionados of these tower-like structures. It occupies a strategic site on the hillside overlooking the Mediterranean, and boasts breathtaking views of the port of Barcelona.

The isolated location of the lighthouse, on the south side of Montjuïc Hill, near the cemetery, and its shape, which is typical of early-20th-century lighthouses, imbue the building with a nostalgic and evocative atmosphere. Anyone who goes to take a look at the lighthouse is in for a surprise. When viewed from a distance, after dark, the beams of light, warning of the presence of the hill, are visible. The lighthouse was built in 1906 to guide the ships approaching the port of Barcelona from this side of Montjuïc. The building was automated in the year 2000, when the last lighthouse keeper left, but it still retains its original layout, with a two-storey rectangular ground plan and a spherical cowl over the dome to protect the light beam. The lighthouse’s stuccoed façade and interior have recently been restored.

Near the lighthouse, at the foot of Montjuïc Castle, are the remains of a mine dating from the Palaeolithic period. The lighthouse is located in an area which boasts superb views of the port and is also a highly valuable natural biosphere reserve.