The current lighthouse of Cap Béar is not the original structure. The first lighthouse built on a rocky platform 75 ft (23 m) above sea level did not stand in the same location. The fixed white light placed at the heart of a small cylindrical tower and operated at night by three watchmen stood on the site of the current Fort Béar. Its lack of visibility from the coast in foggy weather made it necessary to build a new version of the lighthouse with a three-white flashing light emitted every 20 seconds.