Name and Location

The Phare de la Canche, also known as the Phare du Touquet or Le Grand Phare, stands at the mouth of the River Canche on the Côte d'Opale in France. Its official name and identifiers include a national reference (ANFR) of 710143, heritage reference (Monument historique) of PA62000122, and Seamark reference of A 1196.

2. Construction and History

The current tower was built between 1951 and 1955 by the French "Service des Phares et Balises" technical department, replacing a pre-war lighthouse destroyed in 1944. The new tower was inaugurated on May 15, 1955. In 2010, it was classified as Monument historique for its post-war heritage and technical interest.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Phare de la Canche is a tapered cylindrical tower with external lightning conductors, circular gallery, and ventilated lantern room, made of monolithic reinforced concrete painted white. The tower stands 56 meters tall, with a focal height of 54 meters above mean high water.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse serves as a major coastal light, emitting a characteristic group of two white flashes every 10 seconds. Its range extends to 25 nautical miles (approximately 46 kilometers). The light is operated by the Direction des Affaires Maritimes – Service des Phares et Balises.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can access the surrounding dune landscape on foot or by bicycle, with a small parking lot near Allée des Mésanges. However, the tower interior is not open to visitors due to safety concerns. The Écomusée du Touquet, located at 407 Avenue des Phares, offers insight into local maritime heritage, lighthouse history, and dune ecology.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

The lighthouse has been nicknamed "La Grande Dame" by fishermen for its slender white silhouette on the dune ridge. It's also rumored that seamen leaving Étaples blouse district would pause under her beam for a final glimpse of home.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Phare de la Canche is fully automated, with no resident keeper since the 1980s. The lighthouse is monitored remotely, and AtoN installations are limited to no public AIS transponder or radar.

9. Further Information

For further information, please refer to French Wikipedia, the Ministère de la Culture database (Base Mérimée), SHOM Chart A1196, and Le Touquet-Paris-Plage Tourist Office.