Name and Location

The Farol de Montedor, also known as the Montedor Lighthouse, is located near Carreço in the municipality of Viana do Castelo, Alto Minho, Portugal.

2. Construction and History

Commissioned in early 1910, the Farol de Montedor was constructed to mark the northern Portuguese shoreline. The lighthouse was built during the Late Belle Époque, reflecting Portugal's effort to modernize its navigational network. Its construction was driven by increasing coastal traffic into the Douro estuary and Leixões port, aiming to improve safety on this rocky stretch.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Farol de Montedor features a cylindrical masonry tower with a balcony and lantern, standing 28 meters above its base and approximately 100 meters above mean sea level. The construction materials used include locally quarried granite and coastal concrete render. The architectural style is Functional with minimal ornament, typical of early 20th-century Portuguese lighthouse design.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse is equipped with an electric lamp, which replaced earlier oil or acetylene light sources in the mid-20th century. It features a fully automated operation, emitting three white flashes every 15 seconds (Fl(3) W 15 s). The nominal range of the light is approximately 20 nautical miles (≈37 km).

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is located atop a small cliff, accessible on foot via a short path from the Rua do Alto do Facho. A nearby parking area in Carreço village offers access by car. The interior of the lighthouse is not generally open to the public, but occasional guided tours may be arranged through the Viana do Castelo Maritime Museum (advance booking required). Exterior viewing is free year-round and can be reached by footpath from Carreço center.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The Farol de Montedor sits above rugged Atlantic cliffs with views over Praia de Carreço and the distant outlines of the Peneda-Gerês mountains. Coastal dunes and traditional fishing cottages dot the shoreline below, providing a picturesque backdrop to this historic lighthouse.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local folklore tells that on foggy nights, fishermen would light homemade bonfires on the cliffs near Montedor; the official lighthouse rendered this practice obsolete. During World War II, local accounts speak of Allied convoy escorts using the light as a landmark when patrolling off the Iberian coast.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Admiralty number is D.2176, and the national chart number is Instituto Hidrográfico de Portugal chart no. 46. The lighthouse has not been equipped with radar or AIS installations; its primary function remains optical (light) marking.

9. Further Information

For more information on the Farol de Montedor, please visit the Direção de Faróis (Portuguese Lighthouse Directorate) website at www.faróis.pt, the Portuguese Wikipedia page "pt:Farol de Montedor", or consult P. Youngblood's book "Lighthouses of Portugal" (Maritime Heritage Press, 2014, pp. 78–81).