Name and Location

The lighthouse stands at 5-478 Rue Julie Postel in Barfleur, a commune in the Manche department of Normandy, France. Its coordinates are 49°40′11.2″ N, 1°15′36.1″ W (decimal 49.6697835, -1.2600375).

Construction and History

The construction date is not documented, but it likely dates from the late 19th or early 20th century when many small harbor lights were erected in Normandy. The lighthouse is not listed as a Monument historique, indicating no protected-status designation.

Architecture and Materials

The structure is a small, likely masonry or concrete tower set on a low base. No stylistic or architect name is recorded.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse marks the entrance to the harbor basin of Barfleur, guiding small craft in. The light characteristic is not officially published, but local sources suggest a fixed or occulting white light. The range and focal height are not documented.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse sits on municipal land adjacent to a private quay area. There is no visitor center, and the tower itself is not open to the public. A coastal footpath along Rue Julie Postel provides viewpoints of the structure and harbor. Barfleur is reached by departmental road D650 off the N13 (Cherbourg–Caen). On-street parking is available near Rue Julie Postel; the lighthouse is a short walk from Barfleur's village center.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse overlooks the pebble beach and tidal basin of Barfleur, a historic fishing port famous for its granite quays and Norman maritime heritage. Across the water lies the Pointe de Barfleur and the grand Gatteville lighthouse on the opposite headland.

Anecdotes and Folklore

No documented shipwrecks or keeper stories are associated with this modest harbor light.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is almost certainly automated and unmanned, as with most minor French harbor lights. No known AIS or radar installation on site; oversight presumed by the French “Service des phares et balises.”

Further Information

French Service des phares et balises website (general info on Normandy lights), Barfleur tourist office (www.barfleur-tourisme.fr), OpenStreetMap contributors (2024), and Direction Générale des Impôts – Cadastre (2012) are recommended for further reading.