Name and Location

The Ancien Phare, also known as the "Old Lighthouse", is a small disused harbor lighthouse located at 3 Boulevard Charles V on the eastern quay of Honfleur's historic basin. Its coordinates are 49.4231448 N, 0.235134 E.

Construction and History

The exact date of construction is unknown, but it is believed to have been built in the mid-19th century. The lighthouse originally served as a range light guiding vessels into Honfleur's port. It was decommissioned in the 20th century when a modern pierhead light replaced it further out on the jetty, and officially recorded as disused in cadastre update 2011.

Architecture and Materials

The Ancien Phare is a slender square-plan masonry tower adjoining a small single-storey keeper's building. The tower stands approximately 6-8 meters high, with a rendered stone or brickwork exterior painted white. The lantern roof is red-metal, but the lamp and Fresnel apparatus have long been removed.

Light and Navigation

The focal plane of the lighthouse was circa 10 meters above sea level (estimated). The light characteristic was formerly fixed white, but the precise pattern has not been recorded in surviving logs. The range was under 5 nautical miles when in service. Nautical chart reference is SHOM chart 7113 (Havre de Honfleur).

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is not open to the public for interior visits due to private ownership of the ground floor. However, the tower remains visible from the quayside promenade. Visitors can reach the lighthouse by walking along Boulevard Charles V towards the eastern jetty.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the quay in front of the Ancien Phare, visitors enjoy panoramic views over the Seine estuary, the modern jettyhead light, and the entrance to the Bassin of Honfleur. The surrounding streetscape features 19th-century port warehouses, wharf-side cafés, and passing fishing vessels.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local tradition holds that fishermen's wives once passed messages via lantern signals at the top of the tower. This anecdote adds a touch of romance to the lighthouse's history.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was officially recorded as disused in cadastre update 2011. It is classified as a building on cadastre-DGI and its maintenance is overseen by the Port de Honfleur authority.

Further Information

For more information, visit the Honfleur Tourist Office (https://www.honfleur-tourisme.fr/) or consult the OpenStreetMap link (https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=49.423145&mlon=0.235134#map=18/49.423145/0.235134).