Name and Location

Phare de Nice, also known as the Nice Lighthouse, is a coastal lighthouse located on the city's waterfront in Nice, France. Its address is Plus-Code M7RQ+67, Boulevard Franck Pilatte (near Trav. du Commerce), Quartier du Port, 06300 Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France. The coordinates are 43.6905868 N, 7.2882045 E.

2. Construction and History

The Phare de Nice was commissioned in 1952 and first lit the same year. It replaced earlier minor lights to improve the safety of vessels entering the Port of Nice. The lighthouse has played a crucial role as a permanent geodetic reference point, registered as IGN point “06088W-1” in 2002.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Phare de Nice is a functional 1950s concrete tower typical of post-war French port lighthouses. The tower stands at an unknown height, with the focal plane situated 21 meters above ground level. The foundation is a seaside concrete base set into the quayside promenade.

4. Light and Navigation

The Phare de Nice displays a flashing red light every five seconds (sequence: 0.1 s flash + 4.9 s eclipse). The focal height is 21 meters above mean high water, with a nominal range of 20 nautical miles. The light source is a high-intensity rotating beacon fully automated and powered by shore-fed electricity backed by an automatic battery change-over.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The exterior and base of the tower are visible from the Belle Époque–style quayside, but the tower itself is closed to visitors. Visitors can access the site by walking along Boulevard Franck Pilatte from Place Pierre Gautier or via Promenade des Anglais; the site lies immediately east of the Port Lympia entrance. Facilities include benches and viewpoints along the waterfront as well as nearby cafes and restaurants.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The Phare de Nice offers a panoramic view overlooking the anchorage of Port Lympia, the headlands of Cap d’Antibes to the southwest, and the Baie des Anges to the east. Nearby attractions include Promenade des Anglais (800 meters west), Old Town (Vieux Nice) and Cours Saleya market (1.5 kilometers east), and Musée National Marc Chagall (1.2 kilometers inland).

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

The Phare de Nice has guided countless pleasure craft and fishing vessels since the 1950s without a major shipwreck recorded at its base. The lighthouse is sometimes informally referred to as “Le Phare du Port” by mariners and port staff.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Phare de Nice remains an active navigation aid under the authority of the French maritime administration (Service des Phares et Balises). It has no AIS transmitter or radar installation co-located, although nearby naval and port authorities maintain separate systems.

9. Further Information

For further reading, consult the French Wikipedia entry for Phare de Nice or the IGN geodetic record at http://ancien-geodesie.ign.fr/fiche_point.asp?num_site=06088W&no_ptg=01&numero_f50=3743.