Phare de Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Maritime lighthouse in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, France.
The Phare de Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is a navigation beacon positioned at the northern point of the Somme river where it meets the bay and ships enter the harbor. The current structure sits on the riverbank and automatically emits red light signals to guide vessels safely through the waterway at night.
The first beacon was built in 1893 as a simple structure with a red light to guide ships in the bay. It was destroyed in 1944 during the war and later replaced by a modern automated system that operates independently.
The beacon is a familiar sight to fishermen and sailors passing through here, marking the entrance to the bay and its working waterfront. It remains part of the local maritime identity that people living along the coast recognize instantly.
The beacon can be viewed from the river path or the harbor area and serves as an orientation point while walking along the Somme. The best views are from the riverbank during daytime, where you can also observe the other maritime structures of the harbor.
The beacon operates completely automatically without an attendant on site, making it an unmanned navigation system. This automation often surprises visitors who expect someone to tend this historic structure.
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