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All Spain Peñíscola Bufador de Peñiscola

Bufador de Peñiscola

The blowhole bursts spectacularly right next to the buildings in a medieval seaside town.

Peñíscola, Spain

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Alan Newman
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Seaward entrance.   Simon Burchell/cc by-sa 4.0
Seaward entrance.   Simon Burchell/cc by-sa 4.0
The blowhole.   Alberto-g-rovi/cc by-sa 3.0
Looking own the blowhole.   Fagairolles 34/cc by-sa 4.0
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Sea caves with inland blowholes are not exactly rare. However, it is uncommon to come across one erupting within a cluster of buildings within a medieval town.

Under the right conditions the sound of the air moving through the bufador, or blowhole, can be heard through much of the Old Town in Peñiscola, Spain; a great snort that reverberates through the air. When the waters start to churn, the sound is accompanied by spray that rises up like a jet of steam. And when the sea’s really riled up, a great column of water bursts from the 210-foot-long blowhole at intervals, sometimes so forcefully it makes the nearby buildings quake.

The tunnel system is called the Bufador del Peñiscola, but its longer—and more interesting—name of El Bufador del Papa Luna refers to the real name of Pope Clement XIII, Pedro Martinez Luna. He was the last of the "Popes of Avignon," a string of pontiffs forcibly installed by the King of France that the Vatican still considers to be antipopes.

Luna took up residence in the town’s castle in 1415 after his appointment as pope. He converted the castle, which still bears his name, to a papal palace. Local legend says the sound of the blowhole discouraged potential attackers from storming the town. This is perhaps rather unlikely, but the truth is that despite his disputed legitimacy, no such attack ever took place.

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Geology Geological Oddities Tunnels Legends Intriguing Environs Caves Ecosystems Subterranean Sites Water

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The castle itself is also worth a visit and, for movie fans, it is notable as one of the filming locations for the 1961 classic movie El Cid, which featured Charlton Heston in the namesake role.

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Dr Alan P Newman

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aember, woutersfannny

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  • woutersfannny

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July 1, 2019

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  • http://en.comunitatvalenciana.com/happening-now/peniscola/news/magical-stories-about-bufador-de-peniscola
Bufador de Peñiscola
5 Calle Escaleta
Peñíscola, 12598
Spain
40.356997, 0.407315
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Peniscola Castle

Peñíscola, Spain

miles away

Casa de Fusta

Amposta, Spain

miles away

Peter Buchs House and Sculpture Garden

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Peñíscola

Peñíscola

Spain

Places 2

Nearby Places

Peniscola Castle

Peñíscola, Spain

miles away

Casa de Fusta

Amposta, Spain

miles away

Peter Buchs House and Sculpture Garden

Castellón, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Peñíscola

Peñíscola

Spain

Places 2

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