Lighthouses of Spain: Basque Country (Euskadi)

This page lists lighthouses of Euskadi, Spain's Basque Country (País Vasco), including the provinces of Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa . This area is at the eastern end of Spain's northern coast, adjoining the French border. It is a beautiful coastline where mountains drop steeply into the sea, and occasional water gaps create small sheltered harbors. Bilbao is the largest port in the region.

Naturally, Web sites based in this area are often in the Basque language Euskara rather than in Spanish (or in addition to Spanish). The Basque word for a lighthouse is itsasargi. The Spanish word is faro, but its use is generally restricted to the larger coastal light stations. Smaller lighthouses are called balizas (beacons). The navigational lights in Spain are regulated at the national level by the Comisíon de Faros, but they are operated and maintained by the regional port authorities, located at Bilbao in Vizcaya and at Pasajes in Guipúzcoa .

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. ES numbers are from the Spanish national list of lights, Libro de Faros. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.

General Sources
Libro de Faros
A comprehensive web site for Spanish lighthouses, maintained by Agustín Solabre Suárez.
Online List of Lights - Spain North Coast
A huge collection of photos posted by Alexander Trabas.
Guías Masmar - Faros
Photos and data for aids to navigation throughout Spain.
Lighthouses in the Basque Country
Photos available from Wikimedia.
Lighthouses in Spain
Excellent aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Farosdelmundo.com
Photos and accounts by Carlos Olmo Bosco.
Phares d'Europe
This French-language site by Alain Guyomard and Robert Carceller has pages for many of the lighthouses of northern Spain.
Leuchtturme.net - País Vasco
Photos posted by Malte Werning.
Leuchttürme Spaniens auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.

Faro de Santa Catalina
Faro de Santa Catalina, Lekeitio, June 2010
anonymous Flickr Creative Commons photo

Lighthouses of Vizcaya (Bizcaia)

Note: Lighthouses in Vizcaya are operated by the Autoridad Portuaria de Bilbao.
Bilbao Area (Bilbo Handia) Lighthouses
* Santurtzi
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); three green flashes every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern, painted white; lantern dome is brown metallic. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. The Santurtzi piers are on the west side of Getxo harbor, northwest (outside) of the Contradique de Algorta. Located at the easternmost corner of the piers. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-119; Admiralty D1527; NGA 1920.
* Arriluze (Getxo Contradique de Algorta Arranque)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); continuous white light. 20 m (66 ft) two-stage round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery (upper stage round, lower stage square stone), attached to a 2-story keeper's house. Tower painted white with unpainted stone trim; lantern roof is gray metallic. Solabre has a good photo, Guyomard and Carceller have a photo (at right on their page), Wikimedia has several photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the Muelle de Arriluze at the root of the Contradique de Algorta in Getxo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-315; ES-00730; Admiralty D1526.
Getxo Contradique de Algorta (East Breakwater)
1904. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); red flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical granite tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Mikel Agirregabiria's photo is at right, Trabas has a good closeup photo, Guyomard and Carceller have a photo (at left on their page), Wikimedia has a sunrise photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The Contradique de Algorta, 1148 m (0.71 mi) long, was built between 1893 and 1901 to provide a sheltered harbor at Getxo, the port of the city of Bilbao. Located at the end of the breakwater, guarding the narrow entrance to the inner harbor. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-094; ES-00720; Admiralty D1525; NGA 1912.

Getxo Contradique de Algorta, July 2008
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Mikel Agirregabiria
* Fuerte de la Galea (3)
1895 (station established 1782). Inactive since about 1905. Approx. 10 m (33 ft) unpainted round cylindrical stone tower with gallery. Lantern removed. Ivan Costinha has a 2008 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The mid-18th century Fuerte de la Galea is located at the water's edge about 600 m (3/8 mi) southeast of Punta Galea. The 1852 lighthouse was a 12.5 m (41 ft) tower on a wall of the fort. Site open, tower closed.
* Punta Galea (2?)
1950 (station established about 1905). Active; focal plane 84 m (276 ft); three white flashes every 8 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story keeper's house. Tower unpainted; the lantern is painted with a red band around the base but is otherwise clear glass including the dome; gallery rail painted white. Trabas has a good photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This light replaced the Fuerte de la Galea lighthouse (next entry). Located on a bold promentory off the Camino de la Galea in Getxo, marking the eastern entrance to the Bahía de Getxo, the harbor of Bilbao. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-232; ES-00615; Admiralty D1524; NGA 1900.

Uribe Lighthouse
* Górliz (Cabo Villano)
1991. Active; focal plane 165 m (541 ft); three white flashes, in a 1+2 pattern, every 12 s. 21 m (69 ft) 10-sided cylindrical concrete tower with lantern but no gallery; 3rd order Fresnel lens. Tower is white concrete; lantern painted black. A photo is at right, a fine 2009 photo is available, Trabas has an excellent photo, and Google has a satellite view. This modern lighthouse, the first in its location, marks a prominent cape on the northeastern approach to Bilbao. It was built as part of the Plan de Señales Marítimas 1985-89, a national plan to upgrade coastal aids to navigation. Note: not to be confused with another Cabo Villano lighthouse in Galicia. Located atop a steep slope on Monte Ermua, about 5 km (3 mi) north of Górliz. Accessible by a winding mountain road, the site offers magnificent views of the sea. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-286; ES-00610; Admiralty D1523; NGA 1898.

Faro de Górliz, July 2003
anonymous Flickr Creative Commons photo

Busturialdea (Guernica) Lighthouses
* Cabo Machichaco (Matxitxako) (1)
1852. Inactive since 1909. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) stone tower, unpainted. The lantern, probably removed long ago, has been replaced in recent years by a radar antenna. Hans van Reenen has a closeup photo, Wikimedia has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located below the current lighthouse; Huelse has a historic postcard view that shows both lighthouses and their relationship. Site open, tower closed.
** Cabo Machichaco (Matxitxako) (2)
1909 (station established 1852). Active; focal plane 122 m (400 ft); white flash every 7 s. 20 m (66 ft) octagonal cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story keeper's house. Unpainted: the tower is gray-brown stone and the lantern is light gray metal. 1st order Fresnel lens in use. Carlos de Vega's photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, a closeup photo taken from the land side is available, there's a 2008 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse marks the most prominent and dangerous cape of the Basque coastline and is said to be Spain's most powerful light, with a range of 48 km (24 mi). Located on the cape, at the end of the BI-4203 highway, about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of Bermeo. Site open; keepers will usually give guided tours if their time permits. ARLHS SPA-032; ES-00580; Admiralty D1520; NGA 1892.
* Rosape (Punta Lamiaren)
Date unknown (station established 1868). Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. Light mounted on one corner of a 1-story masonry keeper's house. House painted white with gold trim. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the east end of Bermeo harbor, about 1.5 km (1 mi) east of the town center. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-115; Admiralty D1512; NGA 1868.
Faro de Cabo Machichaco
Faro de Cabo Machichaco, August 2010
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Carlos de Vega
*** Cabo de Santa Catalina (Lekeitio)
1862. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); four white flashes, in a 1+3 pattern, every 20 s. 13 m (43 ft) two-stage round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to one end of a 1-story keeper's house. The lower 1/2 of the tower is octagonal cylindrical, and the upper half is conical. Tower is unpainted gray stone, lantern roof metallic, keeper's house painted white. A 2010 photo is at the top of this page, Trabas has a good photo, Solabre has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The light station was opened to the public after a €2.7 million renovation project was completed in March 2010. The keeper's houses now include a museum on the Basque maritime and lighthouse heritage. The lighthouse is perched on a vertical cliff at the end of the Avenida de Santa Catalina north of Lekeitio. Site open, museum open daily, tower status unknown. Site manager: Centro de Interpretación de la Tecnología de la Navegación. ARLHS SPA-022; ES-00460; Admiralty D1502; NGA 1840.

Lighthouses of Guipúzcoa (Gipuzkoa)

Note: Lighthouses in Guipúzcoa are operated by the Autoridad Portuaria de Pasajes.
Guetaria and Zumaya Area Lighthouses
* Mutriku (Motrico) (Range Rear)
Date unknown. Inactive since 2009. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower of the church of San Miguel Arcangel. Marisol Marua has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The front light (still active) is on a mast at the end of the harbor breakwater. Located above the harbor of Mutriku (Motrico). Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-320; ex-Admiralty D1496.1; NGA 1828.
* Rompeolas de Zumaya (Zumaia Breakwater)
1927? Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); green flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) round conical stone tower; no lantern. A photo is available, Trabas has a closeup photo, the port's web page (in Basque) has an aerial photo of the breakwater, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a massive, curving breakwater (completed in 1927) that protects the west side of the entrance to the Río Urola estuary. Apparently accessible in good weather by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-322; Admiralty D1494; NGA 1816.
* Zumaya (Zumaia, Monte Atalaya) (2)
1882 (station established 1870). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white light, occulting four times in a 1+3 pattern every 12 s. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 2-story keeper's house. Building painted white with blue trim; lantern and gallery painted blue. The photo from Werning's page is at right, Trabas has a photo, Solabre also has a photo, Wikimedia has a 2010 photo by Jean Michel Etchecolonea, and Google has a satellite view. The original light was on an 18 m (59 ft) tower at a different location. Located at the end of a peninsula on the west side of the entrance to the Río Urola estuary, north of the town of Zumaya. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-003; ES-00370; Admiralty D1493; NGA 1808.
Faro de Zumaya
Faro de Zumaya
photo copyright Malte Werning; used by permission
Guetaria (Getaria, Punta de San Antón)
1863. Active; focal plane 93 m (305 ft); four white flashes every 15 s. 14 m (46 ft) octagonal cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and double gallery, attached to one end of a 2-story keeper's house. Lantern, watch rooms, and both galleries painted white; lower portion of tower unpainted; keeper's house partially painted, displaying white vertical panels separated by unpainted gray masonry. Trabas has a photo, Malte Werning has a good photo, Solabre has a photo, Marinas.com has spectacular aerial photos (misidentified as Monte Igueldo), Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The modern lantern raised the height of the light from the original 90 m (295 ft). Located at the end of a rugged peninsula projecting into the ocean at Guetaria. Site and tower appear to be closed, but the lighthouse can be viewed from fairly close by. ARLHS SPA-216; ES-00335; Admiralty D1489; NGA 1804.

San Sebastián Area Lighthouses
*** Monte Igueldo (Igeldo Mendia) (1)
1778. Inactive since 1855. Approx. 23 m (75 ft) square cylindrical stone tower with a castellated top. A closeup and a second photo are available, and Google has an excellent satellite view. This light had a focal plane of about 180 m (600 ft), too high to be useful in foggy conditions, so it was replaced by the lower lighthouse. In 1912, the Sociedad Monte Igueldo acquired the tower and rebuilt it in part, adding the elaborately castellated gallery at the top. Monte Igueldo is a mountain on the west side of the Bahía de la Concha on the northwest side of San Sebastián. The mountain is incorporated in a park that features natural features and historical attractions (such as the lighthouse) as well as amusement rides. Access is by a historic funicular railway. Located at the top of the mountain. Site and tower open. Site manager: Parque de Atracciones Monte Igueldo.
* Monte Igueldo (Igeldo Mendia) (2)
1855 (station established 1778). Active; focal plane 134 m (440 ft); three white flashes, in a 2+1 pattern, every 15 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the front of a 2-story stone keeper's house. 2nd order Fresnel lens in use. Building painted white with gray trim. Nacho Vegas's photo is at right, Trabas has a good photo, Wikimedia has photos, Solabre has a photo, another excellent photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-141; ES-00240; Admiralty D1483; NGA 1788.
* Isla de Santa Clara (Santa Klara Uhartea)
1864. Active; focal plane 53 m (174 ft); white flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story stone keeper's house. Building painted white with unpainted stone trim; lantern roof is red. Trabas has a photo, Solabre has another photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is built on the site of an 18th century monastery. Located on a steep summit on an island in the mouth of the Bahía de la Concha at San Sebastián, the capital of Guipúzcoa. The island is accessible by passenger ferry during the summer. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-147; ES-00230; Admiralty D1482; NGA 1792.
Faro de Igueldo
Faro de Monte Igueldo, September 2008
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Nacho Vegas

Pasajes (Pasaia) Area Lighthouses
* Cabo La Plata
1855. Active; focal plane 153 m (502 ft); white flash every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery mounted on the flat roof of a 3-story castle-like keeper's house. Building painted white with gray trim. Solabre has an aerial photo, Trabas has a wonderful photo, Wikimedia has photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. This light was originally listed at a focal plane of 148 m (486 ft), so the light tower was raised in height at some time. The building is set into the mountain so that from the sea only the light tower is visible. Perhaps needless to say, the site offers spectacular views of the Atlantic to the north. Located on the Monte Ulía, on the west side of the entrance to the Bahía de Pasajes, about 8 km (5 mi) north of Pasaia by a twisting mountain road. There is a scenic overlook with a picnic area nearby. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-133; ES-00120; Admiralty D1456; NGA 1728.
Punta de Senokozulúa (Punta de Cruces)
1909. Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); white, red, or green light, depending on direction, 7.5 s on, 1.5 s off, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to the front of a 1-story stone keeper's house. Tower and keeper's house are unpainted ochre-colored stone; lantern and gallery painted white and the house has a white roof. Alberto Martinez Subtil's photo is at right, Trabas has an excellent closeup photo, Solabre has an aerial photo, and Google has a satellite view. This directional light guides ships through the narrow entrance to the Bahía de Pasajes. Located on a bluff above the west side of the channel about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) north of Pasaia. Site status unknown. ARLHS SPA-127; ES-00140; Admiralty D1458; NGA 1736.
* Dique de Senokozulúa
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two green flashes every 7 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical solid concrete tower rising from a 1-story concrete block equipment room. Tower painted with horizontal green and white bands. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a short pier extending into the Bahía de Pasajes at the foot of the cliff below the Punta de Senokozulúa lighthouse. Accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D1460; NGA 1748.
* [Punta del Mirador]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); red flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) slender stone tower supported by an arch that spans the walkway along the shore. This is not a lighthouse by any reasonable definition, but it is an interesting light nonetheless. Trabas has a closeup photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This light marks the point where the narrow channel from the sea to Pasaia opens out into the inner harbor. Located off the Torreatze Kalea in Pasaia. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-321; Admiralty D1468; NGA 1756.
Faro de Senokozulúa
Faro de Senokozulúa, May 2003
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Alberto Martinez Subtil
* [Punta Teodoro Arroca]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); three red flashes every 9 s. 9 m (30 ft) post light, painted with red and white horizontal bands, standing beside a small equipment shelter. Trabas has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This very modest light is found on most lists of Spanish lighthouses. Located on the east side of the channel leading to the inner harbor of Pasaia, about 1.5 m (1 mi) north of Pasai Donibane. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-268; Admiralty D1472; NGA 1768.
Pasaia Entrada ("Faro de San Juan")
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); two red flashes every 7 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical tower mounted on a 1-story square stone pier. Tower painted with narrow red and white horizontal bands; equipment room painted white. Trabas has a closeup photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The light marks the entrance to the Bahía de Pasajes, a narrow water gap in a steep mountain ridge. Located at the end of a short jetty on the east side of the entrance, about 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Pasai Donibane. Site status unknown. ARLHS SPA-280; Admiralty D1457; NGA 1732.

Hondarribia Area Lighthouse
* Cabo Higuer (Cabo Higer, Fuenterrabía, Hondarribia) (2)
1881 (station established 1855). Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 21 m (69 ft) 2-stage round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and two galleries, the lower stage square and the upper stage octagonal, attached to a 1-story stone keeper's house. Building painted white with unpainted stone trim; the upper stage appears white with unpainted gray stone vertical stripes. The lantern is painted red, which is very unusual for a Spanish lighthouse. A photo appears at right, Trabas has a great photo, Wikimedia has several excellent photos, Guyomard and Carceller have photos by Lionel Neyens, Werning has a page for the lighthouse, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was destroyed during the Carlist civil war in 1874. Cabo Higuer shelters the entrance to the Bahía de Txingudi (Baie de Chingoudy), an international harbor that serves both Hondarribia, Spain, and Hendaye, France. Located on the cape, about 3.5 km (2 mi) north of Hondarribia. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SPA-029; ES-00040; Admiralty D1452; NGA 1712.
Faro Cabo Higuer
Faro del Cabo Higuer, October 2010
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Joxemai

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Aquitaine | West: Asturias and Cantabria

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Posted November 18, 2005. Checked and revised March 5, 2012. Lighthouses: 22. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.