Contis lighthouse

Contis lighthouse is the only lighthouse on the Landes coast, standing in Saint-Julien-en-Born right above Contis-Plage beach. It rises less than a kilometre from the Atlantic, wedged between a wide dune-backed beach and the pine forest, roughly 15 km south of Mimizan. It's one of the landmark sights of the Côte d'Argent (Silver Coast).

How did the lighthouse end up here?

Construction was ordered by decree of Napoleon III and finished in 1862. The light was first switched on in 1863, and ever since it has guided ships along the treacherous, featureless sandy coastline of the Landes, where dunes and forest offer no natural landmarks for navigation.

The tower was originally painted plain white. In the 1930s it received its now-famous look: two black bands spiralling around the structure like an Archimedes' screw, a pattern that still makes it recognisable from far out at sea or from inland.

The lighthouse narrowly survived the Second World War. In 1944, retreating German forces destroyed only the lantern room at the top, leaving the tower itself intact. The light was rebuilt and switched back on in 1949, with the same characteristics as before the war. Since 6 November 2009, the lighthouse has been listed as a French historical monument.

What will you see there?

The tower stands 38 metres tall, with its lantern positioned 52 metres above sea level — the highest vantage point on the entire Landes coastline. It was once staffed by resident keepers; today it runs fully automatically, with no permanent crew needed.

A visit means climbing a cast-iron spiral staircase of 184 steps. The effort is rewarded with a view found nowhere else on this stretch of coast: the open Atlantic on one side, the dense Landes forest on the other, and between them a ribbon of white sand and dunes. On a clear day, the gallery at the top also gives sightlines along the coast to neighbouring seaside towns.

When should you visit and how do you get there?

The lighthouse is open to visitors seasonally, from April to September; outside that window the climb isn't possible. Early morning or late afternoon tends to be best — the light is more flattering for photos and the heat is less punishing on the stairs.

Contis-Plage sits on the main tourist routes through the Landes, well connected to Mimizan and other resorts along the Côte d'Argent. There's parking near the lighthouse, and the beach itself is popular with surfers, ranking among the better-known surf spots on this part of the coast.

Frequently asked questions

Can you climb to the top of the lighthouse? Yes, it's open for visits from April to September. You'll need to climb 184 cast-iron steps, but the reward is a sweeping view over the ocean and the Landes forest.

Why does the lighthouse have black spiral stripes? The pattern was painted on in the 1930s as an identification marker, helping sailors recognise it from a distance and tell it apart from other lighthouses along the coast.

Is this really the only lighthouse in the Landes? Yes, Contis lighthouse is the sole lighthouse along the entire Landes coastline, which makes it a unique landmark for the whole department.

What happened to the lighthouse during the war? In 1944, retreating German troops destroyed only the upper lantern room. The tower survived, and the light was restored in 1949.