A true jewel of the Côte Vermeille, Cape Béar should soon be the subject of a extensive redevelopment. The project led by the community of municipalities has two objectives: to enhance the value of the site while at the same time preserving overcrowding during the summer period. To this end, the lighthouse would be open to the public, the annex buildings rehabilitated and the access road closed to cars.
The lighthouse open to visits
Central element of the project, the famous lighthouse of Cap Béar would be open to visitors, a first on the Mediterranean coast. Opened in 1905 and listed as a historical monument, the building is currently only open to the public on very rare occasions. As long as you climb the 110 steps, visitors will be able to discover a grandiose 360-degree panorama, 79 meters above the sea.
The project also provides for the rehabilitation of annex buildings, which are very degraded. Currently unoccupied, they have neither running water nor sanitation. Once renovated, one of them would welcome a refreshment bar during the tourist season.
The site is forbidden to cars
To put an end to the anarchic influx of cars and motorhomes during the summer, the small access road would be closed to traffic. A barrier is envisaged at the exit of Port-Vendres, at the level of the Redoute Béar: only residents will be able to pass. The current reception area for motorhomes would be transformed into a parking lot.
Once parked, visitors can reach Cap Béar on foot, following the coastal path, or by bike, taking the road. A shuttle is also under consideration. The possibility of charging a parking fee has not yet been decided. According to estimates, the site currently sees 50,000 people per year.
Securing the site
The closure of the road also responds to security issues. Vehicles can hardly pass each other there, especially in summer when there are many motor homes. “It involves difficult maneuvers, at the edge of the cliff“, testifies Grégory Marty, the mayor of Port-Vendres.
Similarly, the surroundings of the lighthouse will be the subject of improvements to prevent walkers from venturing to the edge of a precipice. These paths will also allow protect flora trampling.
A provisional budget of 3.1 million euros, the project must now be the subject of consultation with the local population. A public survey is scheduled from February 7 to March 11, 2022. If the schedule is respected, work will start in September, and be completed at the end of 2023.