The city of Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes department, waited for its attachment to France in 1860 to dig a port on the Lympia pond and until 1865 to acquire maritime signage. The location of the current lighthouse standing at the end of Nice's breakwater and easily accessible on foot from the quay was chosen in 1928 when the port was extended. The structure of that time, heavily damaged during World War II, was replaced by a 22.9 ft (7 m) high wooden tower in 1945, then by the 72.1 ft (22 m) current pyramid lighthouse.