Le Tréport lighthouse

Le Tréport lighthouse (Phare du Tréport) stands at the tip of the western jetty of the port in Le Tréport, in the Seine-Maritime department, right on the border between Normandy and Picardy.

Where exactly does the lighthouse stand?

The lighthouse rises at the very end of the western breakwater, precisely where the Bresle river flows into the English Channel. The Bresle forms the natural boundary between Normandy and the Hauts-de-France region, so the lighthouse effectively marks the meeting point of two provinces. Its job is to guide fishing boats and leisure craft safely into the harbour of Le Tréport, one of the busier fishing ports along this stretch of the Channel coast.

What does the lighthouse look like?

It's a slim, cylindrical tower standing 14 metres tall, painted in white and green bands — a colour scheme commonly used on French harbour-entrance beacons. A halogen lamp sits at the top, casting a beam visible from up to 20 nautical miles away, roughly 37 kilometres. That range lets approaching vessels spot the harbour entrance long before they're close to shore.

How old is the lighthouse and what's its history?

The current tower was built in 1844 to mark the approach to the port and the mouth of the canal leading to the town of Eu. It wasn't the first light on this spot, though: a surviving painting depicting Queen Victoria's arrival in Le Tréport shows a lighthouse already standing there in 1843, and some sources trace a navigational marker at this location back even further, possibly before 1807. In other words, Le Tréport has needed a light to guide ships into its harbour for well over two centuries, and today's white-and-green tower simply continues that long tradition.

Can visitors go inside?

No — the lighthouse is fully automated and closed to the public; there's no access to the interior or the top. It remains, however, a distinctive landmark for anyone walking the quayside and jetty. The view of the tower, especially at sunset when its white-and-green silhouette stands out against the sky over the Bresle estuary, is one of the more photographed spots for visitors to Le Tréport.

How do you get to the lighthouse?

The lighthouse sits at the end of the western harbour jetty, reached via a waterfront promenade. It's a short, easy walk from the centre of Le Tréport, suitable for most visitors without any special preparation. Bringing a camera is worthwhile: from the jetty you get not only a close view of the lighthouse itself but also a panorama of the chalk cliffs toward Normandy and of the town's beach and seafront.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Le Tréport lighthouse open to visitors? No. It's fully automated, and there's no public access to the tower or its top. You can, however, view it freely from the outside while walking along the jetty.

How tall is the lighthouse and how far does its light reach? The tower stands 14 metres high, and its halogen light is visible from up to 20 nautical miles away, or about 37 kilometres.

How long has there been a lighthouse in Le Tréport? The current structure dates from 1844, but a navigational light existed here earlier — confirmed by sources from 1843, with some accounts suggesting a marker on this spot predates even 1807.

Why is the lighthouse located exactly where it is? It stands at the tip of the western jetty, right where the Bresle river meets the English Channel — the natural entrance to Le Tréport's harbour, which the lighthouse marks and helps navigate safely.