Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Beauduc lighthouse, located on the Sablons tip in Arles (Camargue), was built between 1901 and 1903 to secure navigation after the shipwreck of the steamer Pergame in 1898. Designed by engineer Combarnous and built of cut stone, it signalled the dangerousness of the coast, often confused with the Faraman and Planier lighthouses. Its oil steam fire, which was electrified in 1970, was operated by four guards until its automation in 2001.

The lighthouse, 27.20 m high, was also home to guard housing, a stable and technical systems such as a fog horn (1953-1980) and an aerogenator. Ranked a historic monument in 2013, it was definitely extinguished in 2019 due to coastal erosion and technical problems. A cardinal buoy replaced its role for navigation, while its buildings, although protected, gradually degrade.

The history of the lighthouse reflects the challenges of maritime signage in the Camargue, an area subject to natural hazards. Its architecture, unchanged since 1903, reflects the construction techniques of the period, mixing stone, bronze for lantern, and energy innovations (solar, wind). Its deactivation marks the end of an era for traditional lighthouses, replaced by modern systems that are less vulnerable to elements.

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