Les Onglous lighthouse

#171 among destinations in France

Lighthouse

Gallery (5)

Map

Gallery

Facts and practical information

Standing sentinel at the point where the Canal du Midi meets the Etang de Thau, the Les Onglous lighthouse has been guiding mariners in Southern France since its completion in 1860. This modest yet iconic structure marks the end of the 240-kilometer-long canal and serves as a crucial navigational aid in the region.

Constructed as part of the ambitious project to connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, the lighthouse is situated near the town of Marseillan in the Hérault department. The white cylindrical tower topped with a green lantern room is not as towering as some of its coastal cousins, but its significance to local maritime history is undeniable.

The lighthouse is a popular spot for visitors who come to witness the point where engineering mastery meets the natural beauty of the French waterways. While the lighthouse itself is not open to the public, the surrounding area provides picturesque views and a serene atmosphere for those looking to enjoy a scenic stroll or a peaceful boat ride along the canal's terminus.

Coordinates: 43°20'24"N, 3°32'23"E

Location

OccitanieFrance

ContactAdd

Social media

Facebook

Day trips

Les Onglous lighthouse – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Agde Cathedral, Agde Round Lock, Noilly Prat, Étang de Thau.

4 miSW
Church, Romanesque architecture
Agde Cathedral, Agde
102 min walk • Agde Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in Agde in the Hérault département of southern France. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Stephen, and stands on the bank of the river Hérault.
3.9 miW
Canal
Agde Round Lock, Agde
99 min walk • The Agde Round Lock is a canal lock on the Canal du Midi that connects to the Hérault River in Agde France. It is almost unique because it is round, which allows a boat to turn around, and the fact that it has three sets of lock gates, each with a different water level.
1 miNW
Winery, Museum
Noilly Prat, Marseillan
26 min walk • Noilly Prat is a brand of vermouth from France, owned by the Italian company Martini & Rossi. "White" Noilly Prat is the archetype of dry, straw-coloured French vermouth. Noilly Prat now makes Red and Ambre vermouths as well, introduced in the 1960s and 1980s, but they are less widely known. Noilly Prat Dry is 18% alcohol by volume.
5.4 miNE
Scenic lagoons with many shellfish
Étang de Thau
138 min walk • The Étang de Thau or Bassin de Thau is the largest of a string of lagoons that stretch along the French coast from the Rhône river to the foothills of the Pyrenees and the border to Spain in the Languedoc-Roussillon. Although it has a high salinity, it is considered the second largest lake in France.
6.5 miNW
Bridge
Roman Bridge
166 min walk • The Roman Bridge at Saint-Thibéry was a Roman bridge on the Via Domitia in southern France. The partly surviving structure crossed the river Hérault in Saint-Thibéry, 17 km east of Béziers.
4.1 miSW
Monuments and statues
The Youth of Agde, Agde
104 min walk • The Youth of Agde is a bronze statue discovered on September 13, 1964, on the bed of the river Herault on the south-eastern coast of France, by Denis Fanquerle and divers from the Agde Marine Archaeological Research Group. It is probably associated with an ancient Greek shipwreck.
3.2 miS
Beach
Cap d'Agde
81 min walk • Cap d'Agde is a seaside resort on France's Mediterranean coast. It is located in the commune of Agde, in the Hérault department within the region of Occitanie.
4 miSW
43°18'42"N • 3°28'11"E
St. Andrew's Church, Agde
103 min walk • Church
3.9 miSW
43°18'53"N • 3°28'17"E
Remparts, Agde
99 min walk • City wall
4.8 miNW
Locality
Florensac
124 min walk • Florensac is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.
4.1 miNW
Locality
Pomérols
104 min walk • Pomérols is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France.