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Lighthouse

The Canche Lighthouse

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, Opal Coast

About this place

Listed as a Historic Monument since April 9, 2011, the Le Touquet lighthouse overlooks the entire luxury resort.

Considered the most “landlocked” lighthouse—due to its location set back from the sea and its orange-colored bricks—it stands nearly 58 meters tall and has a range of 46 km.

It was commissioned in September 1951, but the Canche Lighthouse is not the town’s first; in fact, nearly 100 years earlier, two lighthouses were put into service to prevent the numerous shipwrecks along the coast. Blown up during World War II, it took six years before the new lighthouse’s light could be seen again.

Its unique octagonal tower was designed by the famous Louis Quételart, a prominent local architect responsible for more than 30 villas in Le Touquet, including Pomme d’Api and Les Mutins.

After climbing 274 steps, Le Touquet unfolds before you in a 360° panorama, taking you from the Bay of La Canche to the Normandy Cliffs, passing by the ramparts of the town of Montreuil.

Just a short walk away, you’ll find the lighthouse house, a building that first housed the masters and later the keepers of the Canche Lighthouse; today, it serves as the lighthouse museum and offers a wealth of anecdotes about the seaside resort of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage.

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What to do nearby?

Upcoming events in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage.

Family 4 July → 1 November

Interactive Workshop: Happy Birthday, Little Prince!

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

From Saturday, July 4, to Sunday, November 1, 2026 This summer, the media library is celebrating the 80th anniversary of *The Little Prince* with a large collaborative mural open to everyone. Let your imagination run wild: a star, a fox, a planet, a word... Everyone can add their own touch and create a poetic and colorful work inspired by the world of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Open to all ages, free admission. During the media library’s public opening hours. For more information, call 03 21 05 21 20 or email.
Culture 10 July → 1 November

"Momentum" Exhibition by David Beyonder

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

The concept of time is often invoked in the creation of a work of art. A photograph, however, seems to last only a fraction of a second. Born of slow processes, it has gradually come to convey the illusion of immediacy. Yet this moment crystallizes an invisible accumulation: human journeys, places traversed, chance encounters captured, carefully considered decisions, patient expectations—and movements. The Musée du Touquet-Paris-Plage-Édouard Champion presents MOMENTUM, David Beyonder’s first solo exhibition. Bringing together fifteen years of photographic work, this exhibition traces the evolution of his vision and practice through a journey that is as sensitive as it is dynamic. As visitors move through the galleries, they discover the diversity of the territories explored by the artist. Whether photographing athletes at one of the most important moments of their lives, works in public spaces, figures of our time, or artists in the midst of creation, David Beyonder focuses on what lies just beneath the surface of the immediate image. Beyond the works, gestures, or performances, his gaze focuses on human journeys: those of men and women who have left their mark on their discipline, pushed the boundaries of their art, and sometimes elevated their artistic language to a level rarely attained. His gaze does not seek to freeze a subject in time, but rather to reveal what is unfolding around and within it: a tension, a state of being, a human presence, a fragment of time. MOMENTUM was conceived as a symphony in several movements. Each room is titled “MOUVEMENT,” echoing both the musical structure and the gestures and moments captured in the photographs. Visitors are invited to move through the exhibition as one might listen to a piece of music: allowing the images to engage in dialogue with one another, through their connections, silences, and resonances. Accessible through its sensitive and intuitive approach, MOMENTUM is intended for all audiences. The exhibition offers each visitor the freedom to engage with the works based on their own experience, while providing multiple levels of interpretation. The exhibition thus becomes a space for sharing and reflection on the contemporary photographic image, whether one is familiar with the medium or not.
Sport 14 July → 4 October

Horse Racing

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Come experience horse racing at the Hippodrome du Parc Equestre on July 14, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. Admission is 5 euros; free for children under 18. Childcare and on-site restaurants are available.

Other places to discover

Lighthouse

The Lighthouse

Calais

Located just a few minutes from downtown, specifically in the Courgain neighborhood, the Calais Lighthouse rises 59 meters above sea level. Built in 1848 to replace the beacon of the ancient Guet Tower, it now guides ships with its automated white flashing lights. Originally powered by oil, then by kerosene, the lighthouse was electrified in 1883 before being automated in 1992. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Calais Lighthouse withstood the destruction of northern Calais during the wars and today towers over the city. The lighthouse regularly hosts exhibitions and events dedicated to the history of lighthouses and maritime signaling, as well as the preservation of the natural heritage of the Opal Coast. Visitors brave enough to climb the 271 steps can also enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the lantern. Today, its smooth operation is thanks to lighthouse and beacon technicians.
Lighthouse

The Gravelines Lighthouse

Gravelines

Completed in 1843 and designated a Historic Monument in 2010, the lighthouse located in the former town of Petit-Fort-Philippe stands 29 meters tall. At its base, you’ll find the lighthouse keepers’ house, and after climbing 116 steps, you’ll reach the top, where you can admire the Opal Coast with its beaches—such as Oye-Plage— the mouth of the Aa River, and many other scenic views. Its black-and-white color scheme stems from the fact that sailors were unable to see the lighthouse; it was therefore adorned with a black spiral, which makes it so unique. Decommissioned in 1935 following the retirement of its last keeper, the lighthouse is now open to the public.
Lighthouse

Risban Lighthouse

Dunkerque

A landmark of the Dunkirk landscape, the Risban Lighthouse—the northernmost in France—stands on the ruins of a fort built by Vauban. Designated a “Historic Monument,” a visit to the lighthouse includes an exhibition on maritime signaling housed in the former keepers’ quarters. Visitors must climb 276 steps to enjoy a magnificent view of the harbor, the city, and the Flemish plain.
Museum

The Museum of Le Touquet

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Located in a villa built in 1925 in the typical architectural style of Le Touquet, at the intersection of Avenue du Golf and Avenue du Château, is the Musée du Touquet. Inside, there is a magnificent collection of paintings, as well as an entire section dedicated to the history of Le Touquet. The section devoted to painting features a collection of works from the late 19th century. Among the best-known painters of the Etaples School are Eugène Boudin, Fritz Thaulow, Henri Le Sidaner, Jules Dalou, Sarah Bernhardt, and Bourdelle. There is also a collection of works that are particularly representative of modern and contemporary art. Among the notable names featured here are Poliakoff, Vasarely, Debré, Hartung, and Mathieu. The historical section of the Le Touquet Museum contains a wealth of archives related to the Academic Society of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. These archives trace the history of the resort from its origins, including, among other things, a section on sports art and seaside posters. Finally, the museum aims to be an active center and a place for discovering contemporary art through its permanent and temporary exhibitions. With this in mind, it has already hosted contemporary dance festivals and hopes to increase the number of such events to introduce the public to the subtleties of an art form that is sometimes misunderstood.
Monument

The Villas of Le Touquet

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Le Touquet’s architecture combines both urban and seaside characteristics, enhanced by exposed beams and stonework, giving the town the tranquility and serenity that make it so appealing. Louis Quételart, Anatole Bienaimé, Horace Pouillet, Louis Cordonnier, Arsène Bical... renowned architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, all of whom worked on the seaside resort of Le Touquet, designing villas that are eclectic in both style and materials. While some villas feature very unique characteristics—such as an underground garage, evoking the house’s connection to the ground, or a “Y”-shaped floor plan—others display an anthropomorphic aesthetic in the style of the 1930s. Inspired by English architecture in their gardens, or featuring Neo-Norman or Neo-Medieval styles, some villas are even listed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments. This site thus offers an introduction to the history of modern architecture. If you’re captivated by these historic homes, head to Le Touquet to explore them...
Nature and gardens

The Gardens of La Manche in Le Touquet

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Let yourself be enchanted by a magical getaway in the heart of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. A true oasis of greenery between land and sea, these exceptional sites invite you to relax and marvel, offering a new spectacle with every season.

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