Red light - Saint-Tropez

The iconic Phare Rouge at the entrance to the Saint-Tropez marina is a landmark that proudly watches over the village and its maritime history.

Originally built in 1866 as a robust stone tower with a red light, it harmonized perfectly with the coastal landscape and local maritime tradition. In 1944 , it was destroyed by German troops, along with large parts of the marina. For decades, a wooden pole or temporary light marked the harbor entrance. Between 1952 and 2000 , a modest concrete tourelle was installed, temporarily outdated and placed in the center of the pier—until the harbor was redesigned at the end of the 20th century. In 2001 , the current Phare Rouge, identical to the original, was rebuilt as part of a large-scale harbor renovation.

It is 15 meters high , has a halogen light and lights up every 4 seconds.

Since 2018, the lighthouse has been the centrepiece of the summer art project "Saint-Tropez Couleur Bleu" , in which artists such as Miguel Chevalier temporarily transform the structure with colourful motifs inspired by the oceans, art, and local heritage figures such as Brigitte Bardot and Françoise Sagan.

Willem Vandenameele