Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The downlight of the port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a lighthouse built in 1936 to guide the ships to the port entrance. Designed by architect André Pavlovsky, it forms a coherent ensemble with its twin, the Ciboure lighthouse, located on the other side of the bay. Both lights indicate the axis of the access channel, ensuring safe navigation for vessels.

The building, of square plan, is distinguished by a volumed architecture refined towards the top, topped by a two-sided roof covered with canal tiles. Its north facade, facing towards the sea, has a red vertical stripe from the front door to the last level, as well as a red frame around the upper window. A bow balcony adorns the bays on the second floor, north and south side. The interior, made of concrete, includes a straight staircase with a tubular handrail.

The lighthouse was listed as historic monuments on October 8, 1993, recognizing its heritage value. It embodies the evolution of maritime signalling techniques in the 20th century, while harmoniously integrating into the port landscape of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a historic city on the French Basque coast.

Its location, close to the Maurice Ravel wharf in Ciboure, reinforces its functional and symbolic role. Although its exact location is sometimes subject to confusion between Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Ciboure, its importance for navigation and its characteristic architecture make it an important part of the local heritage.

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