Points of interest

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Places to visit on the Opal Coast

Beaches, cliffs, museums, walks and good addresses to visit all year round.

4 places · Lighthouse
Filter places by type All Cliff 2 Museum 31 Religious building 14 Castle 3 Fortification 11 Monument 29 Lighthouse 4 Nature and gardens 28 Leisure park 5

Lighthouse 4

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

The Canche Lighthouse

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

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.
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.