Name and Location

The Rade d'Agay Lighthouse is an active major light located in France, marking the entrance to the Bay (Rade) of Agay on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France. It lies on Boulevard de la Baumette in the commune of Saint-Raphaël, Var department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

Construction and History

The exact year of construction and architect are not publicly documented. Further archival research would be required to fill these gaps.

Architecture and Materials

The Rade d'Agay Lighthouse is a freestanding tower with a height of 28 meters above ground and a focal height of 28 meters above sea level. The structure is likely made of concrete and steel framing, but this information is not documented. The tower appears to be unpainted or light-colored.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse has two colored sectors, each exhibiting an occulting group pattern with the following characteristics: Sector 260°–294° (red) in a 4-second cycle; range 12 nautical miles. Sector 294°–032° (white) in a 4-second cycle; range 15 nautical miles. The characteristic is Oc (3+1) 4s, sectors: R 12 M / W 15 M.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is situated on a low coastal promontory immediately east of Agay Bay. There is no public access inside the structure; it can be viewed and photographed from the roadside. Visitors can look westward over the Bay of Agay toward the Esterel Massif.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the roadside viewing point, visitors can enjoy views of the low Mediterranean scrub and rocky shoreline. Nearby attractions include Plage de l’îlot de la Baumette (small pebble beach), Esterel Regional Natural Park trails, and Port of Santa Luca to the east.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and managed by the French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM). It is an active aid to navigation and not listed as a historic monument. Chart references include French nautical chart SHOM No. 6971 (Côte d’Azur) and International charts IHO INT 3701.

Further Information

For official information on the lighthouse, consult the U.S. NGA Publication 113: “List of Lights, Radio Aids and Fog Signals, Europe, Mediterranean, Black and Red Seas” (2010-10-22) or the SHOM website (www.shom.fr) for official French notice to mariners.