Name and Location

The Phare de Porquerolles, also known as the Phare du cap d'Arme, stands at the southern tip of Porquerolles Island in the commune of Hyères, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France.

2. Construction and History

The Phare de Porquerolles was erected in the 19th century, although the exact date is not documented. The lighthouse is a traditional masonry structure with a square tapering tower and an attached single-storey keeper's house. It is listed as a Monument historique since September 13, 2012.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Phare de Porquerolles is made of local stone and stucco, painted white, while the cast-iron lantern and gallery are painted black. The tower stands at a height of 20.6 meters above sea level, with a focal plane of 80 meters.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse operates automatically under the management of the Service des phares et balises (French lighthouse authority). Its light characteristic is Fl(2) W 10 s – two white flashes every ten seconds. The range of the light is 29 nautical miles, covering bearings of 142°–204° (southeast quadrant), 243°–252° (west-southwest), and 266°–119° (north circle).

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The exterior and surrounding path are freely accessible year-round. Visitors can arrive by ferry from Hy��res or Le Lavandou to Porquerolles, then walk or cycle the 2-3 km to the lighthouse site. There are no on-site visitor facilities, but picnic tables and viewpoints nearby offer scenic vistas.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

From the Phare de Porquerolles, visitors can enjoy a panoramic vista over Toulon Bay, the Giens Peninsula, and the open sea. The sunsets are particularly photogenic.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

• The lighthouse is named for the rocky promontory "cape of arms" (cap d'Arme), where vessels often sought shelter from mistral winds in centuries past.
• Local oral tradition recalls 18th-century resin transport vessels running aground in the lee of the cape.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Phare de Porquerolles is managed by the French Service des phares et balises (Ministry of the Environment) and operated as an active aid to navigation for merchant and pleasure craft off the French Riviera.

9. Further Information

For more information, please consult the following references: ANFR (Agence nationale des fréquences), "Phare du cap d'Arme," AUG 2019; US NGA Pub. 113 (Mediterranean, 2010-10-22); data.gouv.fr / Ministère de la Culture – Base Mérimée PA83000026.