Name and Location

The Phare du Mont Saint-Clair, also known as the Mont de Sète, is an active coastal navigation light located in France. The official name is Phare du Mont Saint-Clair, while the local name is "Mont de Sète". It is situated at an elevation of about 93 meters above sea level on the summit of Mont Saint-Clair, overlooking the Mediterranean, the town of Sète, and the Étang de Thau. The address is 335 Rue François Desnoyer, 34200 Sète, Hérault, Occitanie, France.

2. Construction and History

The construction date of the Phare du Mont Saint-Clair has not been recorded reliably; further archival research is recommended. However, it was inscribed as a Monument Historique in 2011 (ref. PA34000085) and listed in national heritage registers (ref: FR:ANFR 320928).

3. Architecture and Materials

The Phare du Mont Saint-Clair is an octagonal masonry tower with a height of 23 meters (structural). The tower's elevation above mean sea level is 92.7 meters, with a traditional stone or brick masonry construction typical of 19th-century French lighthouses.

4. Light and Navigation

The light emitted by the Phare du Mont Saint-Clair is a white flashing light (Fl W) with a period of one flash every five seconds (Fl W 5s). The range of the light is 27 nautical miles, with vertical sectors eclipsed between bearings 105° and 215° to protect from glare inland. The Admiralty number is E0544, and the NGA number is 113-6164.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse itself is not open to the public ("Ne se visite pas"). However, the summit of Mont Saint-Clair and surrounding parklands are freely accessible on foot or by local shuttle. The nearest trailhead is Chemin du Phare (within walking distance of central Sète). Panoramic viewing platforms nearby offer sweeping vistas of the town, the lagoon of Thau, and the Mediterranean coast.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The Parc du Mont Saint-Clair features landscaped public gardens and picnic areas. The Musée Paul Valéry is a regional art and archaeology museum located below the hill. The historic center of Sète includes a canal network, fishing port, seafood restaurants, and beaches to the south toward Plage de la Corniche.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

No anecdotal or folkloric information is available about the Phare du Mont Saint-Clair.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse operates fully automated and still functions as an official navigation aid. No public reports of AIS or radar equipment co-located with the lighthouse exist. The Phare du Mont Saint-Clair is shown on French nautical charts under reference AD 3400170 (Aladin chart) and Admiralty E0544.

9. Further Information

For further information, refer to the Ministère de la Culture (Base Mérimée), ANFR (Agence Nationale des Fréquences) data, OpenStreetMap feature, Wikimedia Commons image, and French Wikipedia article.