Torre de les Aigües del Besòs

Torre de les Aigües del Besòs is a 19th-century brick water tower in the Poblenou district of Barcelona, now open to visitors as a lookout point and a space dedicated to the city's industrial memory.

Why was this tower built?

The tower was raised between 1880 and 1882 on the initiative of Barcelona industrialist Xavier Camps, working together with Pere Falqués, the municipal architect of Sant Martí de Provençals at the time. It was erected right next to the mouth of the Besòs river, since its purpose was to draw and pump water from the right bank of the riverbed. The water was meant to supply the fast-growing industrial district of Poblenou, home to numerous factories that depended on a steady water source.

What does the tower look like?

The structure is a circular brick tower built entirely of exposed ceramic brick and standing 63 metres tall. For decades it was the tallest point in all of Poblenou. An external spiral staircase winds up the outside of the tower, while the internal structure relies on Catalan vaults (volta catalana) supported by metal corbels — a construction technique typical of Catalan engineering architecture of the era.

Why couldn't the water be drunk?

Although the original goal was to supply the city with drinking water, the intake proved disappointing: water drawn from this stretch of the Besòs was too salty and of too poor quality to be consumed. Even so, the installation was not wasted — for a century it supplied water for industrial use and for washing the streets of Poblenou. The tower stayed fully operational until 1992, when it was finally decommissioned.

What happened to the tower after it closed?

After years standing unused, the tower underwent an extensive, meticulous restoration that got underway around 2010. The work was carried out brick by brick, and the original fifty-metre staircase along with its railings was faithfully rebuilt to match the historic design. The restoration preserved the authentic character of this 19th-century engineering structure.

What can visitors see at the tower today?

Today, Torre de les Aigües del Besòs functions as a viewpoint in the heart of the Sant Martí district and as a space devoted to Barcelona's industrial memory. Climbing to the top offers views over Poblenou and the area around the mouth of the Besòs from a vantage point that, for decades, was reserved solely for the workers who operated the installation. It's a rare chance to see a district that has transformed from the city's industrial backyard into one of the more dynamic parts of contemporary Barcelona.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Torre de les Aigües del Besòs? The tower stands 63 metres tall and was, for many years, the highest point in the Poblenou district.

When was the tower built and why? It was built between 1880 and 1882 as a water tower designed to draw and pump water from the Besòs river to supply the industrial district of Poblenou.

Why did the tower stop operating? The installation ran almost continuously for nearly a century, but was decommissioned in 1992. Water quality had also long been an issue — it was too salty for drinking, so it was mainly used for industrial purposes and street washing.

Can the tower be visited today? Yes. Following a restoration that began around 2010 — during which the original staircase and railings were faithfully rebuilt — the tower was opened to the public as a lookout point and a space telling the story of Barcelona's industrial heritage.