Lighthouses of Switzerland

Switzerland is an Alpine country with no coastline, but it does have lighthouses on two large lakes. One is Lac Léman (Lake Geneva in English). The Rhône River flows out of Lac Léman at Genève (Geneva) to begin its course through southern France to the Mediterranean. Another large lake is the Bodensee (Lake Constance), located on the country's northern border with Germany. The Rhine River flows through the Bodensee before beginning its course northward through Germany and the Netherlands to the North Sea. The lighthouses on the lakes are owned and operated by the respective city governments. Besides being decorative, they do have some function, since there is navigation on both lakes. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Special thanks to Michel Forand for providing much of the data on these lighthouses. General Sources Leuchttürme der Alpenregion Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Feu de la Jetée Sud and Jet d'Eau, September 2006 Creative Commons photo by Victor Abellón

Lighthouses of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva)

Genève Jetée du Sud (2) 1911 (station established 1875). Active (?); focal plane 3 m (10 ft); continuous red light. 7 m (23 ft) octagonal cast iron tower with an ornate domed roof. Tower painted white, lantern black. Victor Abellón's photo is above, Nathalie Pahud-Briquet has a nice panoramic view showing the Feu des Pâquis (next entry) in the background, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the Jetée du Sud (south jetty) in the Parc des Eaux-Vives, near the famous Jet d'Eau, the world's tallest fountain (140 m (459 ft) high). Site and tower closed (this jetty does not appear to be walkable), but there are good views from the park onshore. Owner/site manager: Ville de Genève. ARLHS SWI-002. * Les Pâquis (Genève) (2) 1896 (station established 1857). Active (?); focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white or green light, depending on direction; the lighthouse is also floodlit at night. Approx. 17 m (56 ft) octagonal cast iron tower mounted on an octagonal stone base. Entire lighthouse painted white. Mihai Midus's photo is at right, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This well known lighthouse is the subject of countless photos. The first lighthouse was built as an experiment, to test the use of a primitive form of electric lighting in which the light was provided by an open arc of electricity. The tests were held in December 1857. The results were inconclusive at best, and the test lighthouse was abandoned until the present tower was built in 1896. At that time there was commercial shipping on Lac Léman, but only pleasure craft and passenger ferries navigate the lake today. The lighthouse is located at the end of the Jetée des Pâquis, which projects into Lac Léman on the waterfront of downtown Genève (Geneva), at the intersection of the Quai du Mont Blanc and the Quai Wilson. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Ville de Genève. ARLHS SWI-001.

Feu des Paquis, Genève, April 2006 Creative Commons photo by Mihai Midus

* Morges Jetée du Sud Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); continuous red light. 7 m (23 ft) square masonry tower with a steeply pyramidal, tile-covered roof; the light is displayed from the peak of the roof. A winter photo is available, Geoff Marston has a 2008 photo showing both lighthouses, and Google has a satellite view of the harbor. Morges is a town on the north side of Lac Léman a short distance west of Lausanne. The harbor was built in 1696 and the two jetty houses are believed to be nearly that old. It is not known when they were equipped with lights, but note that there's no light shown in Huelse's postcard view. Located at the end of the south jetty at Morges. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWI-003. * Morges Jetée du Nord Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); continuous green light. 7 m (23 ft) square masonry tower with a steeply pyramidal, tile-covered roof; the light is displayed from the peak of the roof. A photo is at right, this lighthouse is on the left in Geoff Marston's 2008 photo showing both lighthouses. Morges is a town on the north side of Lac Léman a short distance west of Lausanne. The harbor was built in 1696 and the two jetty houses are believed to be nearly that old. It is not known when they were equipped with lights. Located at the end of the north jetty at Morges. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWI-004.

Morges Jetée du Nord, July 2007 Creative Commons photo copyright xim-crow

Lighthouses of the Bodensee (Lake Constance) (see also Germany: The Bodensee)
* Romanshorn

Date unknown (before 1910). Active (?); presumably a green light, characteristics unknown. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) octagonal tower with a small square lantern topped by a square skeletal fog bell tower with bell. Tower painted white; roof is gray, lantern black. A closeup photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north jetty, one of two jetties enclosing the harbor of Romanshorn, about 16 km (10 mi) northwest of Rorschach. Accessible by walking the pier, and there should be good views from the ferries sailing across the lake between Romanshorn and Friedrichshafen, Germany. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWI-005.

* Rorschach

1869. Active (?); green light, characteristics unknown. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal cast iron tower with a small gallery. A panoramic photo and a 2009 closeup are available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a distant satellite view. Located at the end of the long, curving breakwater at Rorschach. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWI-006.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted April 17, 2006. Checked and revised November 22, 2009. Lighthouses: 6. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.