Lighthouses of Monaco

The Principality of Monaco is a tiny independent state wedged into the French Côte d'Azur about halfway between Nice and the Italian border. The total area is 188 hectares (465 acres) and the permanent population is less than 35,000. Independent for many centuries, Monaco was briefly annexed by France during the Revolutionary period (1793-1815) but then regained its independence under the protection of the King of Sardinia. When the surrounding county of Nice was transferred from Sardinia to France in 1860 a special treaty affirmed Monaco's continued independence.

Monaco has 4.1 km (2.5 mi) of Mediterranean frontage and two harbors, the Port d'Hercule (Port de Monaco) at Monte Carlo and the Port de Fontvieille a short distance to the south. Aids to navigation are presumably operated by the port authority, Ports de Monaco. In 2005 Monaco began a harbor expansion project at the Port d'Hercule requiring removal of the old breakwaters and their lighthouses. The government declined to consider any suggestions that the lighthouses be relocated or preserved, regarding them as obsolete. For lighthouse fans this was a heartbreaking loss.

The French word for a lighthouse, phare, is usually reserved for the larger coastal lighthouses; a smaller light or harbor light is called a feu (literally "fire," but here meaning "light").

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume E of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.

General Sources
Feux du Port de Monaco
Photos collected by Alain Guyomard and Robert Carceller.
Online List of Lights - Monaco
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
World of Lighthouses - Monaco
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Französische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.
GPSNauticalCharts
Navigational chart information for Monaco.
Navionics Charts
Navigational chart for Monaco.


The lost lighthouses of Monte Carlo, looking south
photo by Marie-Christine Toscano
courtesy of Le Phare à Travers le Monde,
posted by Alain Guyomard and Robert Carceller

Lighthouses
* Port Hercule Contre-Jetée (Jetée Lucciana)
2006(?). Active; focal plane about 12 m (39 ft); three green flashes every 15 s. 2 m (7 ft) post mounted atop a large 2-story concrete pierhead structure. The upper level of the pier is a public walkway and plaza. A photo by Capt. Peter Mosselberger is at right, Trabas has another closeup of the light by Capt. Peter, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the new north jetty of the Port d'Hercule. Admiralty E0844; NGA 7236.
#Monaco (Monte Carlo) Jetée du Nord
1913. Inactive since 2005; demolished in 2006. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal cylindrical masonry tower with lantern but no gallery; the light was displayed in later years from a 2 m (7 ft) mast atop the lantern. This is the light in the foreground of Marie-Christine Toscano's photo above. Huelse has a historic postcard view of the Port d'Hercule showing both jetty lighthouses. The building at the base of this lighthouse was the pilot station for the port. The south and north jetties enclosed the original square harbor of Port d'Hercule. Formerly located at the end of the old north jetty, now the Quai l'Hirondelle. ARLHS MON-002; ex-Admiralty E0842; ex-NGA 7236.
#Monaco (Monte Carlo) Jetée du Sud
1910. Inactive since 2005; demolished in 2006. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal cylindrical masonry tower with lantern but no gallery; the light was displayed in later years from a 2 m (7 ft) mast atop the lantern. This is the more distant light in Marie-Christine Toscano's photo above. John Caddell posted a 2001 view and Trabas has a photo by Douglas Cameron. Huelse has a historic postcard view showing the tower with its original lantern. Formerly located at the end of the old south jetty, now the Quai Rainier I. ARLHS MON-001; ex-Admiralty E0840; ex-NGA 7240.

Port d'Hercule Contre-Jetée Light, Monte Carlo
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining page: Alpes-Maritimes

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Posted April 3, 2006. Checked and revised April 20, 2024. Lighthouses: 3. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.