Cap Béar Lighthouse

Cap Béar Lighthouse stands on the headland of the same name, roughly 800 meters southeast of the center of Port-Vendres, perched on a high cliff above the Mediterranean. It's one of the defining landmarks of the Côte Vermeille, where the Pyrenees run straight down into the sea.

Why is there a "second" lighthouse here?

The first lighthouse on this spot dates back to 1836: a small cylindrical tower on a nine-meter base, showing a fixed white light from a height of just under 23 meters above sea level. The trouble was that the headland tends to catch fog more often than the surrounding coast, and the light kept disappearing exactly when ships needed it most. So in 1905 the old tower was retired and replaced with a taller, more powerful structure.

That second lighthouse, still in operation today, rises 27 meters and sits on ground about 50 meters above sea level — which puts its beam at an elevation of some 80 meters above the water, making it one of the more visible lights along this stretch of coast. It's a square, pyramidal tower built from rough-cut stone, with distinctive corner quoins and corbelling near the top. The light flashes three times, white, every 20 seconds.

The lighthouse is fully automated and remotely monitored today, with no resident keepers left on site. In 2011 it was added to the register of historic monuments alongside its outbuildings, and a decree of 9 October 2012 gave it full historic-monument status.

How do you get to Cap Béar?

Since 2024, the road leading right up to the lighthouse has been closed to cars, so reaching it now means a bit of a walk — which, if anything, makes the outing more rewarding. The easiest option is to park at Paulilles, about 3 km south of Port-Vendres off the D914, then walk roughly 800 meters (about 10 minutes) down to Bernardi beach, where the loop trail around the headland begins.

You can also walk there directly from Port-Vendres, following the shoreline past the commercial harbour to the gate near the semaphore station, right at the foot of the lighthouse. That stretch covers about 3 km and takes around an hour on foot.

What will you see once you're there?

Cap Béar sits on the sentier du littoral, also known as the sentier des douaniers — the old customs officers' patrol path along the cliffs, now marked with yellow trail signs. The full loop around the lighthouse runs about 6 km along steep cliff edges, opening up views over the Mediterranean and, inland, the terraced vineyards of Banyuls climbing the hillsides. Along the way you'll also pass Fort Béar, the old defensive works that once guarded the approach to Port-Vendres harbour.

Before heading further along the coastal path toward Cerbère or Argelès-sur-Mer, it's worth checking whether that particular stretch is open — sections get closed periodically, especially after strong winds or during high fire-risk periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the Cap Béar lighthouse? No — it's fully automated with no resident staff, so the tower itself isn't open to visitors. The grounds around it, however, are freely accessible on foot.

Is this the same lighthouse as the one in Port-Vendres harbour? No, they're two separate structures. Cap Béar Lighthouse stands on the cliffs outside town and has operated since 1905, while the harbour itself has its own, much smaller navigation light on the mole.

How long does it take to walk there from Port-Vendres? The coastal path covers about 3 km and takes roughly an hour one way at an easy pace.

Is there parking near the lighthouse? Since 2024, driving right up to the lighthouse hasn't been possible. The nearest car park is at Paulilles, from which it's about a 10-minute walk to the start of the trail.