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Cap Ferret lighthouse

A brief history of the Cap Ferret lighthouse

In 1840, the first Cap Ferret lighthouse was built 2.5km from the tip of the peninsula to signal the entrance to the Bay of Arcachon to boats. It ran on petroleum steam before being electrified in the late 1920s.
The German army used the lighthouse as a watchtower during the Second World War. But on the night of August 21, 1944, the lighthouse was destroyed and the German army fled with the optical system.
After a brief replacement by a substitute tower, the Cap Ferret lighthouse was rebuilt and put into service in 1947. The optical system is recovered and reinstalled. The lighthouse was fully automated in the mid-1990s. Since July 2000, the lighthouse has been open to visitors. In 2009, it was listed as a historic monument. Since then, it has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors every year.

Visit the Cap Ferret lighthouse

The Cap Ferret lighthouse is divided into 6 themed areas.

  1. The lower gallery provides the first information and figures on the lighthouse. You can also see 2 superb original mosaics.
  2. In the chart room, you can see a number of old charts and navigation tools. The evolution of marine cartography is recounted.
  3. In the Hydrographic Room, you’ll learn how sea relief is measured and how seabed charts are created.
  4. The navigation room is an interactive room with applications and quizzes. You can virtually navigate the Arcachon basin.
  5. The History of Lighthouses room tells the story of the Cap Ferret lighthouse and other emblematic lighthouses around the world. Learn about the lighthouse’s architecture and operation.
  6. After climbing 258 steps, you’ll reach the 57m-high summit with its 360° view over the Arcachon basin. From here, you can admire the Dune du Pilat, Ile aux Oiseaux and the Banc d’Arguin.

Practical information

A visit to the Cap Ferret lighthouse costs €6 per person aged 13 and over, and €4 for children aged 4 to 12. Children under 4 enter free of charge. Opening times vary throughout the year, according to 4 periods:

  • In July and August, the lighthouse is open daily from 10am to 7:30pm;
  • In mid-season (April to June and September), the lighthouse is open daily from 10am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 6:30pm;
  • in October and during the All Saints’ vacation period, the lighthouse is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm;
    out of season, the lighthouse is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 2pm to 5pm.
  • The lighthouse is closed to the public from mid-November to around mid-December. Pets are not allowed.