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Lighthouse

The Gravelines Lighthouse

Gravelines, Opal Coast

About this place

Completed in 1843 and designated a Historic Monument in 2010, the lighthouse located in the former town of Petit-Fort-Philippe stands 29 meters tall.

At its base, you’ll find the lighthouse keepers’ house, and after climbing 116 steps, you’ll reach the top, where you can admire the Opal Coast with its beaches—such as Oye-Plage— the mouth of the Aa River, and many other scenic views.

Its black-and-white color scheme stems from the fact that sailors were unable to see the lighthouse; it was therefore adorned with a black spiral, which makes it so unique.

Decommissioned in 1935 following the retirement of its last keeper, the lighthouse is now open to the public.

What to do nearby?

Upcoming events in Gravelines.

Culture 20 August → 22 August

Gravelines Sound and Light Show – 40 Years Already!

Gravelines

The Troubadours of Gravelines are celebrating 40 years of tradition with a Sound and Light Show! On August 20, 2026, starting at 10:00 p.m., join us at the Porte aux Boules, an iconic landmark in Gravelines. This must-see show brings four decades of music and light to life. This evening is an opportunity to come together and share a magical moment with the Gravelines community. Ticket prices are as follows: €16 for adults, €12 for reduced-rate tickets, €5 for children, and €32 for a family pack (2 adults + 2 children). You can purchase your tickets online. Join Les Troubadours to celebrate this wonderful anniversary!
Festival 25 September → 28 September

Icelandic National Day

Gravelines

Icelandic Festival On September 25, 2026, the city of Gravelines will celebrate the time of year when fishermen return from Iceland. This festival is an opportunity to relive the region’s traditions. The program will feature boats setting out on the channel, a parade with giants and processional models, a vintage market, exhibitions, film screenings, and concerts.
Culture 1 October

Art Discovery Week

Gravelines

Discover the Art Discovery Week in Gravelines, featuring a rich and varied program.

Other places to discover

Lighthouse

The Lighthouse

Calais

Located just a few minutes from downtown, specifically in the Courgain neighborhood, the Calais Lighthouse rises 59 meters above sea level. Built in 1848 to replace the beacon of the ancient Guet Tower, it now guides ships with its automated white flashing lights. Originally powered by oil, then by kerosene, the lighthouse was electrified in 1883 before being automated in 1992. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Calais Lighthouse withstood the destruction of northern Calais during the wars and today towers over the city. The lighthouse regularly hosts exhibitions and events dedicated to the history of lighthouses and maritime signaling, as well as the preservation of the natural heritage of the Opal Coast. Visitors brave enough to climb the 271 steps can also enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the lantern. Today, its smooth operation is thanks to lighthouse and beacon technicians.
Lighthouse

The Canche Lighthouse

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Listed as a Historic Monument since April 9, 2011, the Le Touquet lighthouse overlooks the entire luxury resort. Considered the most “landlocked” lighthouse—due to its location set back from the sea and its orange-colored bricks—it stands nearly 58 meters tall and has a range of 46 km. It was commissioned in September 1951, but the Canche Lighthouse is not the town’s first; in fact, nearly 100 years earlier, two lighthouses were put into service to prevent the numerous shipwrecks along the coast. Blown up during World War II, it took six years before the new lighthouse’s light could be seen again. Its unique octagonal tower was designed by the famous Louis Quételart, a prominent local architect responsible for more than 30 villas in Le Touquet, including Pomme d’Api and Les Mutins. After climbing 274 steps, Le Touquet unfolds before you in a 360° panorama, taking you from the Bay of La Canche to the Normandy Cliffs, passing by the ramparts of the town of Montreuil. Just a short walk away, you’ll find the lighthouse house, a building that first housed the masters and later the keepers of the Canche Lighthouse; today, it serves as the lighthouse museum and offers a wealth of anecdotes about the seaside resort of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage.
Lighthouse

Risban Lighthouse

Dunkerque

A landmark of the Dunkirk landscape, the Risban Lighthouse—the northernmost in France—stands on the ruins of a fort built by Vauban. Designated a “Historic Monument,” a visit to the lighthouse includes an exhibition on maritime signaling housed in the former keepers’ quarters. Visitors must climb 276 steps to enjoy a magnificent view of the harbor, the city, and the Flemish plain.
Monument

Gravelines Belfry

Gravelines

Fully integrated into City Hall, the belfry is visible only from the outside. It once housed the city’s dungeons, which have fortunately been replaced today by the municipal museum. The building, which stands 70 meters tall, rests on a very simple square tower. At the platform level, the first scrollwork decorations appear, and the fourth floor is adorned on each side with a mullioned window decorated with friezes. An octagonal lantern crowns the top and houses a two-metric-ton bell named Danièle, Marie, Pauline, Henriette—the first name of the donor’s mother, who funded the belfry’s reconstruction at the end of the 19th century.
Religious building

Notre-Dame des Flots Chapel

Gravelines

The chapel stands proudly amid the dunes of Petit-Fort-Philippe. Built in the 18th century and destroyed in 1789, it was rebuilt on the seashore in 1829. The 18th-century statue of the Virgin Mary is brought out onto the forecourt—an exceptional occurrence—for a Mass in memory of those lost at sea and for the Icelanders every September.
Fortification

Vauban Fortified Complex

Gravelines

Gravelines has preserved its entire bastioned wall, a fortress rebuilt in 1558 on top of a 14th-century medieval wall. This architectural gem is designated a “Historic Monument” within the grounds of the beautiful Porte aux Boules. A stroll along the rampart walk allows visitors to explore the 17th-century guardhouses, the cistern—whose vaulted chamber naturally stored and filtered water—and the Varennes and Uxelles barracks. The entire complex has been transformed into a cultural space, housing the Museum of Original Drawings and Prints and serving as the city’s cultural hub. A collection of contemporary sculptures by Charles Gadenne offers a poignant moment of emotion during the walk.

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