Redoute de la Franqui, Listed historical monument and former coastal fort in Leucate, France
The redoute de la Franqui is a listed historical monument in Leucate, in the south of France, preserved as a former coastal fort. The rectangular stone building with rounded corners features narrow double-splayed openings running all around it and a semicircular platform on the sea side, sitting on a cliff edge above the water.
The redoute was built in the 18th century to protect the coast of Leucate from attacks coming from the sea. It was listed as a historical monument in 1967, placing it under state protection.
The redoute de la Franqui is sometimes mistaken for a lighthouse because of its shape and coastal position. In reality, it served only as a military lookout and had no role in guiding ships.
The site is accessible on foot and sits on the edge of a cliff with an open view of the sea. Wear sturdy shoes and take care in windy or wet conditions, as the ground near the edge can be uneven.
Although the redoute is sometimes called an old lighthouse, it never had any signaling function for sailors. The semicircular platform on the sea side shows wide traces that suggest cannons were once placed there in gun embrasures.
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