Name and Location

The Galitons de l'Ouest Lighthouse is located at the westernmost islet ("Galitons de l'Ouest") of the Gualite archipelago at the entrance to the Gulf of Bizerte in northern Tunisia. Its address is Galitons de l'Ouest, L'Île de la Gualité, Bizerte Nord, Gouvernorat de Bizerte, Tunisia. The coordinates are 37°29′53″ N, 8°52′27″ E.

Construction and History

The year of erection is undocumented, but the lighthouse appears to be a small freestanding tower on a rock outcrop. Its construction style is not recorded, but it likely features a steel framework or masonry core with a metal lantern housing. No specific historical events are documented for this light.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse's structure type is a small freestanding tower on a rock outcrop. The materials used in its construction are unknown, but it may feature a steel framework or masonry core with a metal lantern housing.

Light and Navigation

The focal plane of the lighthouse is unknown, and its nominal range is unspecified, serving local approaches to Bizerte harbor and the inland lake beyond. The light characteristic is not published, but it aids safe passage between the open Mediterranean and the inland lake by marking the western Galitons islet.

Accessibility and Visiting

The public access to the lighthouse is not normally open to visitors and can only be reached by private boat. There are no on-site facilities or guided tours available.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse is situated on a low, rocky islet with sparse xerophytic vegetation, offering panoramic sea vistas and the distant outline of Bizerte's breakwaters. Nearby attractions include Bizerte old town and marina (approximately 6 km southeast) and Ichkeul National Park (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), approx. 20 km southwest.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Traditional accounts mention local fishermen using the rock as a landmark long before any fixed lantern was installed, highlighting the lighthouse's historical significance in maritime navigation.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated with no permanent keeper's quarters. It is managed by the Tunisian Ports Authority (Port de Bizerte) and is included on Admiralty List of Lights (Mediterranean – Tunisian coast) and National charts, such as Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine (SHOM) – Tunisia 1:75 000.

Further Information

For further reading and references, consult Tunisian Ports Authority publications, SHOM nautical chart index for Tunisia, and local maritime pilot guides.