Point Laxe Lighthouse

Point Laxe Lighthouse (Faro de Punta Laxe) is a compact, white-tiled lighthouse standing on the Cabo de Laxe headland right next to the small town of Laxe, on Galicia's rugged Costa da Morte. For over a century, this simple cylindrical tower has helped ships navigate one of the most treacherous stretches of Spain's Atlantic coastline.

How do you get there?

The lighthouse sits on the tip of the headland that juts out from Laxe, in the province of A Coruña. The easiest way to reach it is by car, following the coastal road network that links the small fishing ports scattered along the Costa da Morte. The lighthouse stands near Monte da Ínsua, the highest point in the area at 78 meters above sea level, which offers sweeping views over the ocean and the surrounding cliffs. From the town center, it's a short and scenic walk along the coastline to reach the tower.

What will you see?

The lighthouse tower is modest in scale, standing just 11 meters tall, with a plain cylindrical shape that skips the ornamentation found on older, grander lighthouses. Since the 1930s it has been covered in distinctive white tiles, which make it stand out sharply against the dark, rocky headland and keep it visible from a distance even in poor light. The site is managed by the Port Authority of A Coruña, which oversees navigation along this section of coast.

Right beside the lighthouse stands a bronze sculpture known as "A Espera" ("The Waiting Woman"). It honors the wives and families of sailors and fishermen who, for generations, watched the horizon for their loved ones' return from the sea — a theme that resonates deeply in this fishing-dependent stretch of coast.

Why was a lighthouse built here?

Construction of the lighthouse was first laid out in the General Lighting Plan of 1904, when authorities decided that this stretch of coast needed a pair of twin lighthouses — one at Punta Laxe and another at the nearby Roncudo headland — to cut down on shipwrecks along an unusually dangerous, rock-strewn shoreline. The project was formally approved in 1919 and assigned to engineer Francisco Godínez, who designed both towers. Work moved quickly, and the Laxe lighthouse was officially inaugurated on October 22, 1920, almost simultaneously with its twin at Roncudo.

Why is the Costa da Morte so dangerous?

The name "Coast of Death" is no exaggeration. This part of the Galician shoreline has long been notorious for violent Atlantic storms, jagged rocks, and powerful currents that have claimed numerous ships over the centuries. Lighthouses like the one at Punta Laxe were built precisely to reduce that risk, guiding vessels safely past the headland, especially at night and in fog.

When should you visit?

Spring and summer are the best seasons to explore the lighthouse and its surroundings, when longer daylight hours and calmer weather make it easy to walk the cliffside paths and take in the ocean views. Autumn and winter bring the coast's wilder side — strong winds and rain are common — but visiting then makes it obvious why this lighthouse has been essential to shipping for a century. Late afternoon light is particularly striking here, sharpening the contrast between the white tower and the dark rock of the headland.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Point Laxe Lighthouse located? It stands on the Cabo de Laxe headland, next to the town of Laxe, in the province of A Coruña on Galicia's Costa da Morte.

When was the lighthouse built? It was constructed in 1920 and officially inaugurated on October 22 of that year, following a plan drawn up in 1904 and a project approved in 1919.

Who designed the lighthouse? Engineer Francisco Godínez designed it, along with its twin lighthouse on the nearby Roncudo headland.

What does the "A Espera" statue near the lighthouse represent? It's a bronze sculpture honoring the wives and families of sailors and fishermen who waited for their loved ones to return safely from the sea.

Why is the lighthouse tower white? It has been covered in white tiles since the 1930s, a treatment that made it far more visible against the dark rocky coastline.