Torre Badum is one of those places that doesn’t always appear in the first search about what to do in Peñíscola… and we don’t know why. It is one of the most spectacular spots on the entire coast of Castellón. It is located in the heart of the Serra d’Irta Natural Park, on top of a cliff that drops sharply into the Mediterranean, and offers one of the cleanest, wildest, and most powerful views of the entire coastline.
If you are preparing your getaway to Peñíscola, take note of this place, because it is well worth it.
History and curiosities of Torre Badum
Torre Badum is not there by chance. It is of Arab origin and, centuries later, in the 16th century, it was reinforced and used as a watchtower within the defensive system that protected the entire coast from pirate attacks. Its function was to watch the horizon and warn the other towers when a suspicious ship approached too closely.
The tower is located on the edge of one of the most important cliffs of the Serra d’Irta Natural Park, a mountainous alignment that runs parallel to the coast and is more than 15 km long. From this point, a huge stretch of coastline is controlled—with coves and marine reefs—, and that is why it became one of the most strategic buildings in the area for centuries.
Today you cannot enter its interior, but the visit is still just as impressive due to the mix between the landscape, the open sea, and the Torre Badum itself. It is one of the symbols of the park and one of the few constructions that are preserved in this stretch of virgin coast of the Valencian Community.
What Torre Badum is like
Torre Badum has a very particular shape: it is circular, truncated-conical and about eleven meters high. It is built with stone and traditional masonry, which gives it that robust and almost indestructible appearance that fits so well with the landscape of the Serra d’Irta.
One of its most striking features is that it has no door at ground level. And how do you access it? Its only entrance is about six meters high, through an opening that functioned as a window and access at the same time. It was not an architectural whim, but a defensive strategy to hinder the entry of pirates and looters who roamed the coast.
And if you approach the facade you will see something else: a shield of the Kingdom of Valencia with the two-headed eagle of the Austrias. As you can imagine, this detail is not original to the Arab construction or the 16th-century watchtower, but a later addition. It was incorporated during one of the many restorations… and it is still there.
The tower has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest since 1985, and it is not only because of what it is like, but because of what surrounds it: a totally natural environment where cliffs, sea, and mountains mix as in few places on the Valencian coast.
What to do around Torre Badum
After getting to know Torre Badum… it’s time to take advantage of the surroundings! You are in the heart of the Serra d’Irta Natural Park, so what surrounds you are not hotels or roads, but cliffs, trails and some of the best coves in Peñíscola.
If you fancy the beach, the most logical plan is to go down to Platja del Pebret, one of the most natural and wild in the area. It has clean water, dunes, pine trees and zero buildings around. Ideal to rest for a while after the walk or take a quick dip before launching into doing some of the hiking trails of Castellón that pass through here.
Several easy-to-follow routes start from Torre Badum: you can walk the coastal path, advance towards the coves or even connect with paths that take you to higher areas to enjoy incredible views. It is the typical place where a new viewpoint appears every ten minutes.
And if you have already come this far and want to complete the day with something more urban, start crossing things off your list of what to see in Peñíscola: get lost in its old town, visit the animal recovery center—Jardín del Papagayo—or walk along the Peñíscola promenade.
Oh, and you can’t leave without visiting the Peñíscola Labyrinth. It is a very fun activity, whether you come with family, friends, or as a couple. The place is full of tall hedges, turns, and corridors that seem to never end. It is normal to take a while to get out. And when you finally do, it’s time to replenish your strength. The area is full of places to eat well, so you can look for a recommendation among the best restaurants in Peñíscola and end the day as it should be: with a full stomach.
Come and discover Torre Badum in Peñíscola
By the way… we still haven’t told you how to get to Torre Badum in Peñíscola, and it’s almost the easiest thing of all. Just follow the road that runs through the Serra d’Irta Natural Park and, halfway between Peñíscola and the southern area of the park, you will see the signposted detour that leads directly to the tower. The track is paved and reaches a small parking lot. From there you only have to walk a few meters to the cliff. You can’t miss it.
And now comes an important clarification: many people get confused and think that Torre Badum belongs to Alcossebre, and it doesn’t. The tower belongs to the municipality of Peñíscola, although it is true that it is relatively close to Alcossebre and both share the Serra d’Irta. But if you want to come to the right place, head to Peñíscola.
And since we are talking about getting to know Torre Badum and its surroundings in the most comfortable way possible, the best thing to do is to take a look at the accommodations we have at Orange Costa. No one knows better than us—who are from here—what you need for a weekend getaway in Peñíscola or for a longer vacation in the area. We offer you well-located apartments, with a lot of equipment and designed so that you can move around without wasting time.
Don’t you think it’s the perfect starting point to come and discover Torre Badum in person?
