Risban
lighthouse

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An exceptional panorama
of the North Sea

Erected in 1842 on the ruins of Fort Risban, built by Vauban in the 17th century, the Dunkirk lighthouse is an exceptional witness to maritime history. Standing 60 metres high, it dominates the port and offers an uninterrupted panoramic view of the sea, the city and the Flanders hinterland. To reach the top, you have to climb 276 steps, a climb rewarded by breathtaking scenery!

Its lantern, fitted with a Fresnel lens, projects a beam that can be seen from over 50 km away. Damaged during the Second World War, the lighthouse was restored in 1946, automated in 1985 and listed as a historic monument in 2011.

You can visit the former keepers’ flats on the ground floor, now converted into an exhibition space dedicated to maritime signage.

Discover this jewel of maritime heritage and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of lighthouses and beacons.

Screening:
“La relève”
by Capucine Vever

From 06/28/2025 to 09/28/2025.

Echoing “Voiles de légende”, an exhibition at Frac Grand Large brings together the artists Åbäke, Sarah Feuillas and Capucine Vever.
The video La Relève by Capucine Vever (from the Frac Grand Large collection) will be screened in one of the exhibition rooms at the Risban lighthouse.

Shot from the Créac’h semaphore on the island of Ouessant, this film offers a silent contemplation of a seemingly deserted seascape, while a voice-over evokes incessant cargo traffic, yet invisible in the image. This discrepancy reveals an active but hidden industrial world, questioning our perception of contemporary maritime networks.

At the Frac Grand Large, from June 13 to August 31, the exhibition “Sur et sous les flots” features a series of prints by Capucine Vever alongside works by Åbäke and Sarah Feuillas, extending a reflection on the maritime landscape and the narratives it inspires.

Take advantage of a reduced rate at the Risban lighthouse, on presentation of your Frac Grand Large ticket.

Photo credit: Capucine Vever, La Relève, 2019, Film 4K 14min43, music : Valentin Ferré Mouchet
Coproductions : Finis Terrae / Capucine Vever / CNAP / Galerie Eric — © ADAGP Paris. Collection Frac Grand Large – Hauts-de-France

Opening

OUTSIDE SCHOOL VACATIONS (ZONE B)