Name and Location

The Digue Sainte-Marie Lighthouse, also known informally as the "Digue du Large Lighthouse", marks the seaward entrance to the port of Marseille-Fos in France. It is situated at the outer end of the Digue du Large breakwater.

Construction and History

This modest lighthouse stands at the tip of Marseille's long outer breakwater, with a documented history on the French cadastre (2010 update) as a "man_made=lighthouse". Although no formal name or date of construction is recorded in public registers, it is likely to have been constructed in the mid-20th century.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a small, cylindrical tower mounted on a low rectangular base. Presumed to be made of cast concrete or masonry, it is finished in white paint.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse serves as a final directional guide for vessels entering one of France's busiest Mediterranean harbors. It is fully automated and operational, with no resident keeper. The light characteristic and range are not publicly documented, but mariners refer to regional French nautical publications for details.

Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can access the lighthouse via a 3 km pedestrian breakwater from the Vieux-Port ferry terminal ("Navettes maritimes"). No formal visitor facilities or guided tours are available. Safety precautions are advised, especially in rough seas or strong winds.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers unobstructed views of the Frioul archipelago and Château d'If to the south. On clear days, visitors can also see a panorama of Marseille's east-facing coast and the Frioul-If island group. Marine traffic control towers of Marseille-Fos port lie to the north.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is operational and fully automated, with no installation on the tower itself for AIS/radar. Broader port surveillance is handled by the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille. The height and focal plane are not publicly documented, but estimated to be under 10 m and roughly 8-10 m above mean sea level.

Further Information

For further reading and references, please visit OpenStreetMap Way 67714085 (https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/67714085), the Cadastre-DGI-FR (Direction Générale des Impôts – Cadastre, 2010 update), and the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille website (https://www.marseille-port.fr).