Cap d'Antifer Lighthouse, Maritime lighthouse in La Poterie-Cap-d'Antifer, France.
The concrete structure rises 38 meters and features fluted exterior walls that give it a distinctive appearance. Its construction serves to guide vessels approaching the Port of Le Havre and employs a second-order optical lens system manufactured by the established French firm F. Barbier.
An initial tower was established at this coastal location in 1894 but suffered destruction during the Second World War. The current facility was completed in 1955 and relocated 30 meters inland from the previous position to provide greater protection from coastal erosion and potential military threats.
The tower received monument historique recognition in 2002, affirming its importance to France's maritime legacy and its architectural contribution to the Norman coastline, where it continues to serve an essential role in navigation safety for commercial and recreational traffic.
The beacon is visible from a distance of 29 nautical miles (approximately 54 kilometers or 34 miles) and emits a flash signal every 20 seconds to assist vessels navigating through the English Channel. The location sits roughly 25 kilometers (16 miles) north of Le Havre along the Alabaster Coast.
The facility sits adjacent to an offshore oil terminal constructed in 1976 for supertankers, connected by a 30-kilometer undersea pipeline to the refinery at Gonfreville-l'Orcher, giving the tower added importance for guiding industrial maritime traffic in this heavily trafficked commercial zone.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
