Gustavia Lighthouse
The Gustavia Lighthouse is a 20th-century lighthouse located in Gustavia, the capital of Saint Barthélemy in the French West Indies. It was constructed in 1961 on the grounds of Fort Gustav III|Fort Gustav], overlooking the Gustavia harbor.
Today the lighthouse is a popular location for tourists, hikers, and photographers, as well as a site for viewing regattas, such as the St Barths Bucket Regatta.
History
The lighthouse was constructed in 1961 by the Direction des Phares and Balises. It was built on the grounds of Swedish battery of [Fort Gustav III|Fort Gustav], one of multiple 18th-century forts that protected Gustavia. Construction took six months, and was done by two laborers: Joseph Gréaux de Flamands and Louis Turbé de Public.The lighthouse's lamp was first lit in 1962, by lighthouse keeper Albert Lédée. Originally, the lamp was gas powered. It required three cylinders each month, which were replaced by Lédée monthly.
In 1972, after switching to electricity, the operation of the lighthouse lamp was automated. An electronic cell triggers the lamp's mechanism based on brightness. Additionally, batteries were installed at the bottom of the tower to provide back-up power to the light in the event of power loss from a hurricane.