The history of lighthouses.Starting from March, the Musée National de la Marine (National Maritime Museum) in Paris features an exhibition on the history of lighthouses in an exhibition space of a thousand square metres.A vital link between land and sea, the lighthouse guides sailors routinely ensuring their safe passage through treacherous waters. From the first torch lit towers fuelled by wood and coal to sophisticated Fresnel lenses, the technology has evolved, as well as the coastal landscape with the proliferation of "sea sentinels".The history of these monuments begins with the impressive French Cordouan, built in 1611. Today, 150 "sea sentinels" turn their beams on 5,000km of coastline (mainland and overseas).The industrial development of lighthouses progressed rapidly in nineteenth century Paris with research, scientific laboratories and manufacturing… Of course, Paris was truly the "capital of lighthouses" boasting the Eiffel tower as its emblem.