The Canet d'en Bérenguer Lighthouse is a lighthouse guiding sailors along the coastline, ensuring maritime safety. This duty is reinforced by the round-the-clock duty of the operator, known as the lighthouse keeper or torrero.

History and Location Decision

After the lighthouse emerged as a necessity for maritime safety, determining its location proved challenging. The structure is situated 360 meters from the shore. The primary reason for this distance was the inadequate soil consistency of the area where the lighthouse would be built, prompting a search for solid ground. Initially, the lighthouse's power was provided by a generator.

The lighthouse also played a role during the Spanish Civil War. Although it was closed on October 24, 1936, for preservation purposes, it served a strategic function during this period. It served as a telephone exchange, coordinating all batteries in the area, and also as an observation post.

Architectural and Structural Features

The Canet lighthouse has a generally rectangular building design. This typology consists of a lateral tower located in the center of one of the building's sides and a central courtyard connected to it. The lighthouse tower itself, the prominent feature of the structure, is constructed in the shape of a truncated cone. It is tiled and stands 30 meters high. The entire structure rises on an octagonal cut stone plinth. Access to the lighthouse at the top of the lighthouse is via a spiral staircase, consisting of 140 steps.

^{Canet Lighthouse (Flickr)}

Operation

The operator, or torrero (lighthouse keeper), as he is commonly known, is crucial to the uninterrupted operation of a lighthouse. The operator must maintain a round-the-clock vigil to ensure maritime traffic and safety. Given this mandatory residency and duty schedule, lighthouse layouts often include adjacent living quarters for the operators.

Legal Status and Current Situation

The Canet Lighthouse is currently owned by the Valencia Port Authority. It is also listed as a "Good Thing of Local Importance" (Bien de Relevancia Local) in the General Urban Plan of Canet (PGOU). This designation legally recognizes the lighthouse's cultural heritage value.