Santa Ana Castle Lighthouse

Santa Ana Castle Lighthouse stands on a rocky headland in Castro-Urdiales, a fishing town on Spain's Cantabrian coast facing the Bay of Biscay. It's a rare combination — a medieval fortress and a working lighthouse sharing the same walls — and it's the first thing most visitors notice when they walk along the harbor.

How do you get there?

The headland sits right at the mouth of the old harbor, at the edge of Castro-Urdiales' historic center, so reaching it is simply a matter of walking along the waterfront promenade. The stone towers are visible from most of the port, making the castle an easy landmark to navigate by while exploring the town on foot. Drivers typically leave their car in the town center and cover the last stretch on foot, since the site sits within the pedestrian-friendly old quarter.

What will you see?

The building follows an unusual pentagonal layout, with cylindrical corner towers rising to roughly 15 meters. Inside the walls is a rectangular hall covered by a barrel vault, a reminder of the site's medieval construction. The lighthouse itself occupies one of the towers on the southeast side of the complex, and it is still an active navigation light guiding boats into the harbor — this isn't a museum piece frozen in time, but a working aid to navigation built into a centuries-old fortress.

From the terraces around the castle, the views stretch across the open sea, the fishing harbor below, and the rooftops of Castro-Urdiales' old town, including the town's landmark Gothic church of Santa María. It's one of the most photographed spots in town, especially around sunset, when the lighthouse beam starts sweeping over the bay.

What's the history behind it?

Construction of the fortress began in the 12th century, and the building went through repeated modifications and additions over the following centuries. By the 16th century it had lost its defensive role and was left abandoned, standing without a clear purpose for roughly 300 years.

Everything changed in 1853, when a lighthouse was installed inside the old fortress — its mechanism was even housed in the former castle chapel. The light was switched on for the first time on November 19, 1853, during the reign of Queen Isabella II, operating as a fifth-order lighthouse. It initially ran on an oil lamp, later replaced by a kerosene lamp, until the whole system was electrified in 1919. A further renovation in 1927 brought a new lantern and changed the light's characteristic to four flashes.

In 1978, the entire old town of Castro-Urdiales, castle-lighthouse included, was declared a historic-artistic site, cementing its place as one of the town's most valuable landmarks.

When's the best time to visit?

The site is open to views year-round, but spring, summer, and early autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for walking the harbor front, with longer daylight hours letting you see the castle in full sun and then catch the lighthouse beam kicking in at dusk. It's easy to combine a visit with a stroll through the old port and the historic center, which is just a few minutes away on foot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the lighthouse at Santa Ana Castle still operating? Yes, it remains an active navigational light, marking the harbor entrance at Castro-Urdiales.

How old is the castle? Construction began in the 12th century; the building was modified over the centuries and lost its military function by the 1500s.

When was the lighthouse built? The lighthouse was installed inside the castle in 1853, and its light was first switched on on November 19 of that year.

Can you go inside the castle? The complex can be viewed from outside and from the surrounding harbor-side terraces; since it houses an active lighthouse, interior access can be limited, so it's worth checking locally before visiting.