Phare des Pâquis, Lake lighthouse in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Phare des Pâquis stands at the tip of the Pâquis jetty on Lake Geneva. Its octagonal stone base dates from 1857; the steel tower with gallery and lantern was added in 1893–1894. The tower is 18.7 metres tall, painted white since 1987, and its light sits 15 metres above the water.
The lighthouse was built in 1857 to mark the entrance to Geneva's harbor, known as La Rade. It was part of a larger development of the port area that included new dikes and bridges.
From 1902 to 1904 a local newspaper called Le Phare appeared, subtitled "Journal des Pâquis – Feuille d'avis de la Rive droite". The lighthouse gave its name to this right-bank notice sheet, a trace of how the structure became a landmark for the Les Pâquis district.
The lighthouse is located directly on the waterfront and is easily reached by tram or bus. The surrounding shore has wide paths, so it is comfortable to walk around the area.
The first keeper, François Marc Delrieu, took up his post in 1883 at the age of 26, hired by engineer Blotnitzki. Besides tending the two jetty lights, he collected harbour customs duties and rang the fog bell on the Eaux-Vives mole. From April 1894 he wound the weights of the new tower's clockwork every 72 hours.
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