Badum Tower

Torre Badum is a 16th-century watchtower perched on a cliff inside the Serra d'Irta natural park, roughly 6 km south of central Peníscola in Castellón, Spain. Standing nearly 97 metres above the sea between the Volant ravine and Pebret beach, it's one of the most recognisable landmarks along this stretch of coast.

Where does the tower come from?

A fortified lookout first stood on this spot back in Arab times, but the structure visitors see today dates from a major rebuild in the mid-16th century, carried out under the reign of Charles V. A carved shield bearing the arms of the Kingdom of Valencia is inscribed with the year 1554, most likely marking the completion of that reconstruction. The name Badum itself comes from an Arabic term roughly meaning "permanent outpost," a fitting description of its original job: keeping constant watch over the sea.

Why was it built?

Torre Badum belonged to a chain of coastal watchtowers stretching along the Levantine and Balearic shores. Lookouts stationed here scanned the horizon for Barbary corsair ships, whose raids were a constant threat to coastal towns of the period. Whenever a suspicious vessel was spotted, smoke signals were sent up from the tower to alert neighbouring watchtowers and warn the residents of Peníscola's castle of approaching danger.

What will you see there?

The tower has a distinctive circular, truncated-cone shape — 5.75 metres in diameter at the base, narrowing to 5.25 metres at the top, and standing about 11 metres tall. It's built from stone using traditional masonry, giving it a solid, almost indestructible look. One quirky detail: there's no door at ground level. The original entrance was a window set well above the ground, reached by a ladder that defenders pulled up behind them once inside, cutting off access to any attacker. Traces of two machicolations survive at the top of the wall, and the tower also doubled as an artillery position.

Torre Badum has been protected as a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) since 1985, and visiting it costs nothing.

How do you get there?

The tower sits within the Serra d'Irta natural park, along a rugged, undeveloped stretch of coastline. The best way in is on foot or by bike, following the cliffside trail that links Peníscola with Pebret beach and the park's other coves further south. Expect steep sections and little shade, so bring water and proper walking shoes.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable hiking conditions, with milder temperatures and a trail that isn't baking in direct sun. In summer, aim for early morning or late afternoon to dodge the peak heat, since most of the route is fully exposed. The viewpoint by the tower ranks among the most dramatic on the whole Serra d'Irta coastline, with sweeping views over the sea and cliffs that drop almost a hundred metres to the water.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entry fee for Torre Badum? No, access to the tower and the entire natural park is free.

Can you go inside the tower? The building is essentially an exterior monument — its original entrance through an elevated window was never designed for tourist access, so the main draw is admiring the architecture and the surrounding views rather than stepping inside.

How long does the hike to the tower take? It depends on your starting point in Peníscola and chosen route, but a coastal walk out to the tower and back typically takes anywhere from about an hour to a few hours, depending on pace and any stops at beaches along the way.

Why is it called Badum? The name comes from Arabic and refers to its role as a "permanent outpost" — a place of constant vigilance against threats from the sea that it maintained from medieval times onward.