©Camarat lighthouse in Ramatuelle, Var|Conservatoire du littoral

The remarkable lighthouses of the Sud

As ships’ guides, luminous coastal lookouts, lighthouses tell the story of our coasts and invite us to admire them from a different viewpoint. From the Camargue to Antibes and the Var coast, discover our selection of three lighthouses protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral which are real musts.

The Gacholle lighthouse in Les Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer

Guardian of the vast stretches of the Camargue

A square tower in smooth masonry capped by a white lantern, the Phare de la Gacholle takes its name from the Provencal word « l’agachòla » which means « lookout place ». It bears witness to the history of the place. Built in 1882, it was partly destroyed during WW2 and refurbished two years after the Armistice. It has been automated since 1967. Surrounded by vast stretches of sansouire and lagoons which are typical of the wild and wet landscapes of the Camargue, the silhouette of the Phare de la Gacholle dominates the dyke and the sea. The dyke which is a 20-km long stretch of earth, was erected in the 19th century to protect the Rhône Delta from sea breezes. A bewitching out of this world landscape perfect for walks or bike rides.

Visits: The volunteers of the Réserve nationale de Camargue welcome the public on weekends and school holidays

Aerial view of the Gacholle lighthouse — ©The Gacholle lighthouse at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, in the Camargue region of France's Bouches-du-Rhône département|Conservatoire du littoral

The Camarat Lighthouse in Ramatuelle

Window onto the headlands of the Var coast and the sea stretching into infinity

The Phare du Camarat in Ramatuelle is impressively high and has its own semaphore. The lighthouse, at nearly 130 metres above sea level, has the second-highest light source in France. It is fully automated and remotely controlled from the neighbouring island of Porquerolles. At night, its strong white light can be seen up to 60 km away from the coast. It has proudly watched over Cap Camarat, at the limit of the Provencal coasts and the Côte d’Azur since 1838. To go there is to experience a stunning spectacle: there is a very wide view of the coast. To the west, Cap Taillat and Cap Lardier and the Golden islands: Levant, Port-Cros, Bagaud and Porquerolles. To the east, the Bay of Pampelonne and the Saint-Tropez peninsula. And as far as the eye can see, only the Mediterranean sea.

Visits: guided tours from June 2025, on prior booking with the Ramatuelle Office de Tourisme.

Walks: To the left of the lighthouse, a little path leads to the coastal trail just before L’île aux Oiseaux or the Rocher des Portes: to the east, you can reach the beach of Pampelonne in 50 minutes and to the west, L’Escalet in 2 hours 20 minutes and Cap Taillat in 3 hours.

The Garoupe lighthouse in Antibes

Limestone giant of the Riviera

Built in limestonein 1948 , the Phare de la Garoupe is one of the most powerful on the Mediterranean coast, with a range of approximately 60 km over the sea. With its oval lamp and grouped lenses, it diffuses two bursts every ten seconds. Behind its doors, a 116-step spiral staircase takes you up to 103 metres above sea level. From there, you look down over the lush green plateau of La Garoupe and the Cap d’Antibes peninsula. With its 180° view over the sea, the Estérel and the Mercantour, the show is stunning.

Visits: After being closed for 25 years, the lighthouse, which is the property of the Conservatoire du littoral, reopened its doors in 2023. This tour (groups of 10 people every 20-25 minutes) also gives access to the garden and a virtual interactive tour of the lighthouse on the ground floor with an access ramp for PRM.

Walks: the lighthouse is accessible on foot via the Chemin du Calvaire or by car on the Route du Phare.

In Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the tops of only two lighthouses are open to the public:

– The Phare de Camarat in Ramatuelle, from June 2025
– The Phare de la Garoupe in Antibes, since 2023
– Over the whole Mediterranean coast, there are only three, with the Phare de l’Espiguette in Le Grau du Roi, which has been open since 2024.

The selection

Le phare de la Gacholle et la digue à la mer

A reception point for the Réserve Nationale de Camargue has been set up at the Gacholle lighthouse.

Cap Camarat lighthouse

Dominated by Camarat lighthouse, the second in France for the height of the light above sea level (130 meters) source, it owes its name to a manor of the fourteenth century....

Phare de la Garoupe

The lighthouse culminates at the top of the Garoupe plateau at a height of 103 metres. An extraordinary vantage point.