Phare Carnot de Boulogne-sur-Mer

Phare Carnot de Boulogne-sur-Mer is a white cylindrical lighthouse located at the end of the Carnot jetty within the city's harbor. The tower stands roughly 22 meters tall with a green top and occupies a prominent position on the breakwater.

The site originally held a massive lighthouse structure built during ancient imperial times that guided ships approaching the harbor. The current tower was constructed later as a replacement for the earlier installation, which no longer stood.

The lighthouse serves as a recognizable landmark for the fishing community and maritime workers who navigate the harbor daily. Its distinctive green top makes it a visual reference point that locals and visitors alike use to orient themselves along the waterfront.

Access to the jetty depends on tide conditions, so visitors should check tide tables before walking out toward the structure. The concrete surface can be slippery when wet, especially after rain or rough seas, so sturdy footwear is advisable.

In 1968, this structure became the first automated and remote-controlled lighthouse in France, transforming how maritime navigation was managed. This technological breakthrough eliminated the need for on-site operators and signaled a major shift in lighthouse technology across the country.