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Roundabouts. We take them for granted. Or they irritate us immensely. Some try to avoid them for fear that other road users do not know the traffic rules. This British invention is primarily intended to allow traffic to flow smoothly. But in Spain, many of the more than 15,000 roundabouts also have a secondary function. They are eye-catchers where creative outbursts, humor, messages and unfortunately also absurd thoughts demand attention.
Let's see which of these roundabouts evoke a smile, amazement, surprise or a frown. And in some cases they have even become tourist attractions.
We start in Valencia with a rather stupid idea to make a roundabout special. The towering Torre Miramar cost 24 million euros to build. This makes it the most expensive roundabout in Spain. The idea was that this lookout over the Mediterranean Sea would attract a lot of visitors. No way. The tower was closed for good after three months. It is now one of the most famous and most hated symbols of Valencia. A bit bizarre is the cemetery in the heart of a roundabout in Madrid. The cemetery was undoubtedly there first and traffic had to be diverted around it. That does not alter the fact that the relatives of the 119 people who were buried there will find it strange that this is their final resting place.
For a more lighthearted intermezzo, attention is paid to the slide in the shape of a bent-over giraffe. Fun for children, but doubtful whether the middle of a roundabout with speeding traffic is such a suitable place for a children's playground.
The town of Benicassim in Castellon chose to install a paella pan with a diameter of 5.5 meters. The underlying message does not need to be thought about for long. After all, paella is the most international culinary dish in the province and in the whole of Spain. So it makes sense that it is celebrated somewhere on a roundabout. One of the most pretentious and daring projects can be seen in Leganes near Madrid. A gigantic 'roller coaster' greets road users there. Playful and daring. No doubt many motorists have already taken this roundabout with a big smile on their faces.
The city council of Leganes does like to decorate roundabouts in an unusual way. At the entrance to the La Fortuna neighbourhood, a 6-metre high steel artwork screams for attention. The artist Maximo Riol designed an abstract representation of a naked man and woman. Intended to be whimsical and thought-provoking. And that is hard to argue with.
Friendliness and a warm welcome for everyone are central to the heart of a roundabout in Valladolid. There are many signs with the simple inscription hello. And that is translated into 300 languages. Creative proof that everyone in the city is welcomed with open arms. In Esparragosa de Lares in Badajoz is the largest roundabout in Europe. This one-lane wonder of 1.3 kilometers in length goes over two bridges at a water reservoir. No art or jokes in this case. But it is an enormous technical achievement and therefore worth mentioning here.
A roundabout in Vigo divides opinions. At its heart is an almost 2 meter high LED screen on which all kinds of messages appear. A kind of lost billboard. No one needs to doubt the impressive technical ingenuity and the creative idea behind it. But several motorists have complained about it because it distracts from the original purpose, namely using the roundabout safely.
Nature and art come together in Jaen where two gigantic peacocks made of recycled material brighten up a roundabout. Nice for a photo and proof of how reuse, beauty and humor can go hand in hand. Finally, the funny and functional roundabout in Villar de Omana in Leon, in this hamlet with 30 inhabitants, an old water tank has been transformed into a swimming pool during roadworks. This unique solution is mainly used to irrigate orchards or as a water reserve in case of fire.
