Construction of lighthouse 1827 (≈ 1827)
Lighthouse built under the Sardinian regime.
1862
Creation of the semaphore
Creation of the semaphore 1862 (≈ 1862)
Semaphore desired by Napoleon III.
1944
Destruction of the lighthouse
Destruction of the lighthouse 1944 (≈ 1944)
Phare destroyed during the war.
1951
Reconstruction of the lighthouse
Reconstruction of the lighthouse 1951 (≈ 1951)
Lighthouse rebuilt by the Bridges and Chaussées.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Napoléon III - Emperor of the French
Initiator of the semaphore in 1862.
Origin and history
Cap Ferrat is a peninsula on the French Riviera in the Alpes-Maritimes, separating Beaulieu-sur-Mer from Villefranche-sur-Mer. The city of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat extends along its eastern coast, while the bay of Villefranche borders its western coast. This natural site, often nicknamed the "billionaire peninsula", is marked by luxurious residences and strong environmental protection via the coastal law.
An eleven-kilometre hiking trail, called customs officers, allows you to travel the course from Passable beach to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat port. This course offers landscapes of limestone coves and a typical Mediterranean flora, such as the sea crass. Coves, such as the Bay of Ants or the beach of Paloma, are known for the seasonal anchorage of yachts.
At its southern end, Cape Ferrat houses a lighthouse built in 1827 under the Sardinian regime, destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt in 1951. A semaphore, desired by Napoleon III in 1862, is still used by the National Navy for maritime regulation and fire prevention. These historic infrastructures underline the strategic importance of the site.
Cape Ferrat is part of a series of iconic Alpes-Maritime capes, alongside Cape d'Ail, Cape d'Antibes, Cape Martin and Cape Nice. Its natural and built heritage makes it a tourist and preserved place, between residential luxury and protected public spaces.
