Capbreton Quai du Vieil Adour Lighthouse
MH43+52 Capbreton, France
Name and Location
The Capbreton “Quai du Vieil Adour” Lighthouse (France) is a small navigational light located at the inner harbor entrance on the old Adour quay in Capbreton, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, on France's Atlantic coast. The address is Quai du Vieil Adour, 40130 Capbreton, Landes, France. The coordinates are 43.655392 N, -1.4474553 W.
Construction and History
The light was first recorded on cadastre plans in 2011, but the official construction date, designer, and original keeper's records are not currently documented in public archives. It is not listed as a Monument historique to date.
Architecture and Materials
The structure consists of a small tower on a masonry plinth, mounting a modern navigation lantern. The material is likely rendered concrete or masonry, painted white. The height and focal plane are under 10 meters above water level, with no architectural style or ornamentation.
Light and Navigation
The light characteristic is unknown, presumed fixed or flashing white for short-range harbor use. The range is likely under 5 nautical miles. It serves vessels entering/leaving Capbreton's inner harbor and may be charted on French nautical chart SHOM 7362 (Adour estuary). The light is fully automated with no keeper's dwelling on site.
Accessibility and Visiting
The quay is open year-round, and visitors can approach the light on foot but the tower itself is not open to the public. To reach the lighthouse, take Avenue de l'Océan/Bd François Mitterrand by car; pedestrian paths run along the estuary. Nearest parking is available in town center (Rue de la Loubine).
Notable Views and Landscape
The surroundings offer panoramic vistas over the Adour estuary, with sandbanks at low tide and surf breakers beyond. The landscape features a mix of timber-framed Landes cottages, the river channel, and pine forests rising inland. Nearby facilities include cafés and restaurants on the quay, fish market, tourist information office.
Anecdotes and Folklore
Local fishermen recall that, prior to full automation, keepers used to walk the quay each evening to light the lamp by hand. Occasional commemorative ceremonies for historic shipwrecks at the estuary bar are held nearby.
Technical and Operational Details
The managing authority is presumed Port of Capbreton under the jurisdiction of French Maritime Authorities (Affaires Maritimes). Maintenance is likely by local port services, with the lighting apparatus maintained periodically. The light is not equipped with AIS or radar installation.
Further Information
- For further reading, consult OpenStreetMap entry https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/129040815
- Cadastre DGI-FR (2011)
- SHOM nautical charts (Adour estuary)
- Capbreton Tourist Office: https://www.tourisme-capbreton.fr/
Details
| Name | Capbreton Quai du Vieil Adour Lighthouse |
|---|---|
| City | Capbreton |
| Country | France |
| Coordinates | 43.655392, -1.4474553 |
| Events | Commemorative ceremonies for historic shipwrecks at the estuary bar are held nearby |
| Stories | Local fishermen recall that keepers used to walk the quay each evening to light the lamp by hand |
| Architectural style | Functional |
| Construction material | "Likely rendered concrete or masonry" |
| Heritage status | false |
| Access description | By car via Avenue de l'Océan/Bd François Mitterrand; pedestrian paths run along the estuary. Nearest parking in town center (Rue de la Loubine). |
| Accessible | true |
| Landscape type | Mix of timber-framed Landes cottages, river channel, and pine forests rising inland |
| View description | Panoramic vistas over the Adour estuary, with sandbanks at low tide and surf breakers beyond. |
| Guided tours | false |
| Facilities | Cafés and restaurants on the quay, fish market, tourist information office |
| Nearby attractions | ["Plage de la Sud","Port's fish market"] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | "Unknown (presumed fixed or flashing white light)" |
| Automated | true |