Name and Location

The Phare des Onglous, also known locally as "Les Onglous", is a small automated lateral beacon located on the northern shore of the Canal du Rhône à Sète, marking the entrance from the Thau Lagoon into the canal. Its official address is Route Sans Nom, 34200 Marseillan, Hérault, Occitanie, France.

2. Construction and History

The exact date of construction for Phare des Onglous is unknown, but it is believed to be a mid-20th century modern beacon. The lighthouse's functional utilitarian architecture was built with presumed reinforced concrete or masonry materials.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Phare des Onglous has a cylindrical tower structure 9 meters above ground level, with a focal plane height of 10 meters above mean sea level. Its height and shape make it easily visible to mariners navigating the canal entrance.

4. Light and Navigation

Phare des Onglous exhibits two occulting sectors, one red and one white, which guide vessels safely through the narrow entrance channel between the lagoon and the open Mediterranean. The light characteristics include 2 occultations every 6 seconds, with a nominal range of 10 nautical miles for the red sector and 13 nautical miles for the white sector.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

Access to Phare des Onglous is restricted due to its location on a breakwater accessible by boat only; no visitor facilities are available. There are no guided visits or on-site facilities, making it an inaccessible attraction.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

• From the surrounding area, visitors can enjoy the Thau Lagoon oyster parks and oyster-farmer huts, as well as the historic port of Marseillan, Canal du Midi access lock ("écluse de l'Anguille"), beaches of Marseillan-Plage and Cap d'Agde, and the famous canals and seafood of Sète.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

There are no well-documented local legends specifically tied to Phare des Onglous. The name "Onglous" may derive from an old Occitan word referring to the rocky outcropping at the canal mouth, but this is purely speculative.

8. Technical and Operational Details

Phare des Onglous is a fully automated beacon, remotely monitored by French maritime authorities under the Port of Sète–Mediterranée. The lighthouse has an ALADIN reference number of 3400197 and is listed as United Kingdom Admiralty List of Lights E0568.

9. Further Information

For further information, please consult the French Wikipedia page (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_des_Onglous) or Wikidata entry (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6529811). Admiralty Notices to Mariners also provide updates and information on the lighthouse's operation and maintenance.