Cordouan Lighthouse in Royan - Destination Tourisme

Cordouan lighthouse in Royan - Discover this unique monument in the Charente Maritime region, located at the entrance to the Gironde estuary.

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Cordouan lighthouse - The monument is located in the commune of Verdon sur Mer, not far from Royan, at the mouth of the Gironde estuary, on the Atlantic OceanThe lighthouse is located in the Charente Maritime region, opposite the Côte de Beauté, the Côte Sauvage and the Pointe de Grave. It is the oldest lighthouse in France still in operation, a heritage jewel belonging to the French state, which delegates its upkeep and maintenance. It is one of the Charente Maritime's most beautiful lighthouses.

Where is the monument?

It is located on the rocks of Cordouan - the rocky plateau of Cordouan, more than 6 kilometers from the coaston the territory of the commune of Verdon sur Mer, in the Gironde department.

How high is the Cordouan lighthouse?

Today, It stands 68 m high, overlooking the Gironde estuary. With a diameter of 16 m, it is one of the ten tallest lighthouses in the world. It's white in color, built from the limestone found in Saintonge and along the Charente coast.

Organizing your visit

Can you visit the Cordouan lighthouse?

The Cordouan lighthouse, an essential part of the Charente region's heritage, can be visited by boat from the port of Royan, or from Le Verdon on the opposite bank of the Gironde estuary. This is the last lighthouse at sea still open to the public.

When can you visit the lighthouse?

The Cordouan lighthouse can be visited from April to All Saints' Day. Please note that the lighthouse is only open at low tide.

How long does it take to visit the emblematic Cordouan monument?

Allow half a day for the visit, departing from the port of Royan, via the entrance to the Gironde estuary. The crossing takes just over 45 minutes. You then board an amphibious boat to disembark on the Cordouan islet.

Practical information for visiting the lighthouse

Where to take the boat to visit Cordouan?

You can embark for at the port of Royan, with La Sirène cruise line.

Where to park?

You can park at the Port, Quai de Monastir, on the seafront (200 m) or in the Place Robert Schuman parking lot.

Who tours the lighthouse?

The tour is led by the lighthouse keeper. After disembarking and walking with our feet in the water, the keeper or keepers welcome us at the foot of the lighthouse and its 301 steps.

Practical information

Length of visit: ½ day or 4 hours Tour prices: from 43 euros to 49 euros Reservations strongly recommended. Bring water- and rock-walking shoes and a backpack.

Near Cordouan lighthouse

What to do nearby

Nearby is the town of Royan, where you can visit the Louis Simon art gallery, the Grande Conche beachmarket. A little further afield, you can visit the Notre-Dame-des-Anges chapel at Pontaillac, its beach and casino. Don't forget to explore all of Royan's most beautiful beaches. But it's also not far from the Pointe de Grave, Le Verdon sur Mer and Soulac sur Mer on the other side of the Gironde estuary. Bordeaux is just over an hour from the lighthouse.

Description of the monument

What's inside the Cordouan lighthouse?

At the foot of the lighthouse is a circular courtyard. The monumental staircase has 301 steps, punctuated by landings and windows to reach the lantern, which has a range of 40km. On the 1st floor was the King's apartment. On the 2nd floor, the royal chapel. On the 3rd floor, the Girondins' room. On the 4th floor, the counterweight room. On the 5th floor, the lamp room. And finally, on the 6th floor, the chambre de veille, which provides access to the passageway, then to the balcony offering a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside.

Who owns the lighthouse of kings?

The historic monument belongs to the French state and is under the responsibility of La direction interrégionale de la mer Sud-Atlantique (DIRM SA).

RoyanThe town of St. Tropez, in the south-west of France, is a pretty little town on the Atlantic coast. It lies at the entrance to the Gironde estuary, and is surrounded by seaside resorts.

History of Cordouan lighthouse

The monument is known as the 'Versailles of the seas' or the king of lighthouses, the lighthouse of kings. It is the oldest lighthouse in Europe, built in 1611. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was listed as a historic monument in 1862, at the same time as Notre dame de Paris cathedral. Here is an extract from the description of the lighthouse on the Unesco website:"The Cordouan lighthouse stands on a shallow rocky plateau in the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Gironde estuary in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, in a dangerous and inhospitable environment. Built of white limestone blocks between the late 16th and early 17th centuries, it was designed by engineer Louis de Foix and redesigned by engineer Teulère in the late 18th century. A masterpiece of maritime signage, Cordouan's monumental tower is decorated with pilasters, columns, modillions and gargoyles. It represents the major phases in the architectural and technological history of lighthouses, and was built with the ambition of perpetuating the tradition of famous lighthouses of antiquity, bearing witness to the art of lighthouse construction during a period of development in navigation, when lighthouses had an important role as territorial markers and safety devices."

What is the history of the building?

The lighthouse as we know it today was built at the end of the 16th century, and took over 20 years to complete, between 1584 and 1611. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1862. It was the engineer-architect Louis de Foix who devoted a great deal of time and money to the project, but never saw it through to completion - he died in 1602. Earlier, in the 14th century, the Duke of Aquitaine, eldest son of King Edward III of England, built the Black Prince's Tower on the same site - just a few meters away on the rocky plateau of Cordouan. This edifice would not withstand the ravages of time and the ocean. In 1664, the dome atop the Cordouan lighthouse - the Tour de Cordouan - was restored after being destroyed by a storm. In 1724, the top of the tower was once again restored, after having fallen into disrepair. Under Louis XVI, it became clear that the building needed to be restored and raised. M. Teulère, an engineer and architect from Bordeaux, convinced the Minister of the Navy and Louis XVI to carry out the necessary work to raise the lighthouse by 45 feet, bringing it to a height of 68 meters.

Witnesses to the lighthouse's history

Description of the lighthouse in the 19th century

par Mme de Lalaing "The Cordouan lighthouse is located on a limestone rock between the two passes of the Gironde estuary. In the 15th century, this rock, now underwater, was an island inhabited by fishermen, who lit fires in the evening to warn ships of the dangers they were running into. According to some historians, a lighthouse had been built here under Louis le Débonnaire; according to others, in 1370, by the Prince of Wales; it was rebuilt by Louis de Foix between 1584 and 1610. A remarkable work of architecture, it was long considered one of the wonders of the world. Standing solidly on a thirty-foot-high circular base of solid masonry, with two projecting sentry boxes, Louis de Foix's tower consisted of three storeys, each surrounded by a gallery. Each floor belonged to a different order of architecture: the first was Tuscan, the second Doric, the third Corinthian. A stone dome, adorned with belfries and surmounted by a lantern, crowned the building. At the beginning of this century, the top two floors were demolished, and the tower was raised to a height of sixty-five meters. The current building consists of a massive base, finished with a platform around which are the janitors' lodgings and service buildings, and then the tower itself. We visited, with great interest, the king's apartment on the second floor, and above all, the Notre-Dame de Cordouan chapel on the second. The vault of this chapel, adorned with beautiful sculptures, is in the shape of a dome. Above the doorway, we noticed the bust of Louis Foix. In the past, a Recollet monk said mass every day in this chapel. To get to the top of the tower, we had to climb three hundred and six steps." Extrait les côtes de la France de Saint Nazaire à Biarritz, by Mme de Lalaing[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Comment la construction du phare a été décidé According to Bordeaux architect M. Teulère "It therefore remains proven that since the inhabitants of Cordoba established the Cordouan fire, it has been constantly maintained to enlighten navigators, whatever the damage caused by the sea. The damage must have been considerable in 1584, and the lighthouse's importance well recognized, since Henri III commissioned Louis de Foix, a Parisian architect who had just built the palace of L'Escurial in Spain and closed the old Adour canal at Bayonne, to design the most beautiful edifice of its kind ever built in Europe. Sailors know of none so beautifully executed," says Bélidor. "It's only a pity," adds this author, "that so much luxury has been lavished on such an isolated, difficult and dangerous place, which, I might add, can only be approached at times of full and new moons. Extract from Tour de Cordouan, its origin, and the main restorations made to it at various times. M. Teulère, architect, Bordeaux[