Phare de Socoa, Maritime navigation tower in Ciboure, France
The Socoa lighthouse is a square tower on the coast of Ciboure that rises above coastal cliffs overlooking the Bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The structure marks the northern side of the harbor and stands with the nearby fort as a defining feature of this coastal landscape.
The structure was built in 1844 after local fishing interests asked for better navigation aids and replaced an earlier wooden beacon from 1816. Electrical improvements in the 1930s modernized the warning system for ships passing through the area.
The lighthouse marks a long tradition of seafaring along the Basque coast where fishing communities have depended on these waters for generations. The two structures together, lighthouse and fort, shape how locals understand their connection to the sea.
The location offers open views of the sea and bay, most clear on sunny days when the tower stands out against the water. The cliffs are easily reached from the fort side where there is plenty of space to stand and take photographs.
The light was once operated by hand with keepers living on site to ensure navigation safety around the clock. Today the system runs automatically, but the story of that human vigilance remains woven into the place.
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