Construction of the semaphore 1805 (≈ 1805)
First signal transmanche sur le cape.
1er novembre 1837
Implementation of the first lighthouse
Implementation of the first lighthouse 1er novembre 1837 (≈ 1837)
14 meter brick tower, fixed fire.
1861
Headlight elevation
Headlight elevation 1861 (≈ 1861)
Height extended to 24 meters.
15 février 1869
Lighthouse electrification
Lighthouse electrification 15 février 1869 (≈ 1869)
First arc lamp in France.
1944
German destruction
German destruction 1944 (≈ 1944)
Phare shaved during the Second War.
1952-1957
Reconstruction of the lighthouse
Reconstruction of the lighthouse 1952-1957 (≈ 1955)
Current stone tower, fire lit in 1958.
30 décembre 2010
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 30 décembre 2010 (≈ 2010)
Full light protection.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The lighthouse in full (Box AB 345): registration by order of 30 December 2010
Key figures
Georges Popesco - Architect
Manufacturer of the reconstructed lighthouse (1952).
André Lacoste - Architect
Co-author of the current lighthouse with Popesco.
Origin and history
The lighthouse of Cap Gris-Nez, located in Audinghen, Hauts-de-France, has been built to secure the coast of the Calais region, which is considered dangerous for navigation. The first lighthouse, a 14-metre brick cylindrical tower raised to 24 metres in 1861, was lit in 1837. It was electrified in 1869 with an arc lamp, a rare innovation for the time, and supplemented by buildings attached to machines and guards. Destroyed by the Germans in 1944, it already symbolized the strategic importance of lighthouses in the maritime signs of the 19th century.
The reconstruction of the lighthouse began in 1952 under the direction of architects Georges Popesco and André Lacoste, with an apparent stone tower joined to a circular building. The new lighthouse, 24 metres high, was equipped with a modern optics floating on mercury and a final light lit in 1958. The site, classified in 1987 and listed as a historical monument in 2010, has also been home to the Gris-Nez CROSS since 1977. Its history reflects technical developments (from vegetable oil to electricity) and geopolitical issues, such as its destruction during the Second World War.
The lighthouse experienced several technical innovations, such as the addition of a mercury tank in 1899 to stabilize optics, or automation in 1986. Its current fire, with a range of 26 miles, uses a halogen lamp of 1000W and a metal lantern of 3 meters in diameter. The national archives retain 34 plans of the lighthouse dating from 1834 to 1913, reflecting its architectural evolution. The site, integrated with the classified landscape of Caps Blanc-Nez and Gris-Nez, remains a symbol of the Opal Coast and its maritime heritage.
Before the lighthouse, a semaphore with a transmanche telegraph line was built in 1805, but the persistent shipwrecks motivated the construction of the lighthouse in the 1830s. Highlights include the installation of a mermaid in 1861, the replacement of steam engines with diesel engines in 1936, and the installation of a beacon in 1948. The current lighthouse, with its regular flashing fire every 5 seconds, always plays a crucial role in maritime safety, while attracting visitors for its history and exceptional panorama.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review