Ten ideas for a visit to the beach

THE MORNING LIST

The European Heritage Days are an opportunity to visit places normally closed to the public or to discover, close to home, buildings whose history is unknown to us. For the 41st edition, which will take place on the weekend of 21 and 22 September, several themes are in the spotlight, including maritime heritage. Many events are organised on the French coasts. Here is a selection of ten places to discover (or rediscover) in France and overseas territories.

The Château d’If, from which Edmond Dantès escaped

Taking advantage of the new popularity of Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Count of Monte Cristo (1846), linked to the success this summer of its film adaptation with Pierre Niney as Edmond Dantès, the European Heritage Days offer the opportunity to discover one of the emblematic places of history, the Château d’If. Built on the open sea by Francis I^Ahem in the 16th century^my Century century facing the city of Phocaea, this fortress is known for its imaginary prisoner, but it was also the prison of real people. On this occasion, a digital art exhibition by Miguel Chevalier, “Digital Abysses” is being held.

The archaeological ship “Alfred-Merlin” in the port of Toulon

Along with military vessels and cruise ships, a scientific vessel, theAlfred-MerlinThe ship will be moored in the port of Toulon for the whole weekend. Its mission is to study archaeological remains on the seabed. Its twenty-eight crew members are tasked with detecting and searching for wrecks in the depths of French waters. Archaeologists and crew members will demonstrate their profession by giving tours of the ship. High heels and strapless shoes are not recommended for the tour. “warns the Department of Underwater and Sub-aquatic Archaeological Research (Drassm), the department of the Ministry of Culture to which the ship is attached.

Strolling along the containers at the port of Le Havre

Symbol of French port power, the port of Le Havre is also known for having inspired numerous painters. Claude Monet depicted it in two paintings, Print, rising sun (1872) and Seaport (1874). Throughout the weekend, walks will be organised at the foot of the containers, as well as a meeting with the Le Havre artist, Hervé Delamare, in the Japanese garden, a landscaped space offered by the Port of Osaka to the Port of Le Havre in 1992.

A walk around the Walde lighthouse near Calais

The only metal lighthouse in France, the Walde lighthouse is located on the beach of Hemmes, between Calais (Pas-de-Calais) and Gravelines (Pas-de-Calais). Built in 1857 by the Irish engineer Alexander Mitchell and listed as a historical monument since 2022, the building has been severely damaged by erosion. The inhabitants of Calais are demanding the restoration of this maritime viewing point, which symbolises the dividing line between the North Sea and the English Channel. To access the lighthouse without setting foot in the water, the walk, which will take place on Saturday 21 September, will take place at low tide.

A history of Normandy coastal tourism, in Hermanville-sur-Mer

Hermanville-sur-Mer (Calvados) became a seaside resort at the end of the 19th century.^my century. The attraction of sea bathing made Parisians want to build villas on the Normandy coast. The construction of a railway line between Caen and Paris and the appearance of beach huts illustrate the tourist transformation of this city, which can be explored during a walk that leads to the discovery of buildings designed by great architects, including Hector Guimard, villas close to the cube and symmetrical with a wide variety of colours and materials such as pebbles and shells.

On board the “Belem”, the oldest French sailing ship, in Saint-Malo

HE BelémThe oldest French commercial sailing ship still in operation, which changed flag several times before regaining the tricolour, will be passing through Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine). After ensuring the transport of the Olympic flame from Athens to Marseille, before the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the three-masted square lighthouse will be moored in Breton waters. Visits with the crew will be organised throughout the weekend.

The Cordouan Lighthouse Museum

The Cordouan Lighthouse and the Museum of Lighthouses and Beacons are located at the foot of the Grave Lighthouse, built in 1859, located at the mouth of the Gironde estuary. From the top of its 28 metres and 107 steps, this square tower offers visitors a breathtaking view of the estuary and the Cordouan lighthouse, one of the oldest and most remarkable isolated lighthouses at sea. An exhibition presents models of all the lighthouses that dot the Gironde estuary, 3D animations and educational games. Climbing the lighthouse tower is limited to about twenty people at a time.

Fort Saint-Louis opens its bastions, in Fort-de-France

Designed in 1638 to protect the Bay of Flamands in Fort-de-France, Martinique, the Vauban-style Fort Saint-Louis is now the naval base for the armed forces in the Antilles. The building has been partly classified as a historical monument since 1973 and offers an extraordinary view of the cove, classified as one of the most beautiful in the world. The day’s programme includes lectures and guided tours.

A fleet of yachts in the shipyards of La Ciotat

The shipyards of La Ciotat were the driving force of the Var town’s economy until the end of the 1980s. The former industrial port was converted in the 2000s into a yacht maintenance and repair centre. Where the military ships once stood, there is now a fleet of luxury boats assembled in the 20th century.^my century. A “marked hiking route” It is organized on Sunday, September 22.

In the bowels of the frigate “L’Hermione”, in Anglet

Replica of a warship in service at the end of the 18th century.^my century, Hermione Currently undergoing renovation in Anglet (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), the shipyard will be open to the public, who will be able to discover its history, the challenges of its construction in Rochefort (Charente-Maritime) over seventeen years, its navigations and its major refurbishments. They will have access to the upper deck and the crew’s sleeping quarters, below the battery deck.