Chimenea del antiguo Gasómetro, Chimney in Arganzuela, Madrid, Spain
The Chimenea del antiguo Gasómetro is a tall brick chimney in the Arganzuela district of Madrid, in central Spain. It is the last remaining visible structure from the former gasworks that once occupied this part of the city.
The gasworks was built in the 19th century to supply Madrid with gas for street lighting and heating, and its construction involved foreign engineers, including a Polish engineer named Tomasz Franciszek Bartmanski. It remained in operation for several decades until electricity replaced gas as the main energy source, after which the site was gradually dismantled.
The chimney is built from red brick and rises clearly above the surrounding buildings, making it visible from some distance away. For many residents of Arganzuela, it serves as a familiar landmark in an area that has changed a great deal over the decades.
The chimney is located in the Arganzuela district and is easy to reach on foot from central Madrid. The surrounding area is open and walkable, making it a straightforward stop during a longer walk through the neighborhood.
The gasworks once had housing for its workers built directly next to the site, meaning some employees lived just steps from where the gas was produced. This detail, largely forgotten today, shows how closely work and daily life were tied together in the industrial era.
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