Gatteville Lighthouse
25c Rte du Phare, 50760 Gatteville-le-Phare, France
Name and Location
The Gatteville Lighthouse, also known as Le Grand Phare de Gatteville, is a monument historique in France. It is located at 25c, Route du Phare, 50760 Gatteville-le-Phare, Manche, Normandy, France.
Coordinates:
Latitude 49.6964169 N, Longitude -1.2658841 E
Construction and History
The lighthouse was constructed between 1829 and 1835. The first light on this headland dated from 1774 but was deemed insufficient by the 1820s. The present tower was inaugurated in 1835.
During World War II, the site was occupied by German forces, who installed anti-aircraft guns on the roof; the lamp was extinguished for the duration. Legend holds that the keeper Jean-Baptiste Le Roux, who served in the mid-19th century, once guided a dismasted brig into Barfleur harbour during a gale, saving all hands.
Architecture and Materials
The lighthouse is a classical cylindrical masonry tower with a gallery and lantern. It was constructed using locally quarried granite blocks. The exterior is smooth and tapering, with a white tower and black lantern room and gallery railings.
Light and Navigation
The light characteristic is Fl (3) W 15 s – three white flashes every 15 seconds. The lamp type is modern electric beacon, formerly oil and then acetylene gas. The range is approximately 27 nautical miles, with a focal height of 70 m above sea level.
Accessibility and Visiting
The lighthouse has been automated since 1988 and is served remotely from CROSS Gris-Nez. It is open to visitors seasonally (April-September) daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Admission fee: approximately €4 adult, €2 children under 12; guided tours extra.
Notable Views and Landscape
The interior of the lighthouse features a panoramic view over the Raz Blanchard, Barfleur harbour, and the îles Saint-Marcouf from the lantern gallery. The surrounding landscape includes the coastal path GR223, sandy beaches, and dune systems.
Anecdotes and Folklore
Local legend holds that Jules Verne visited the lighthouse in the 1880s while researching coastal navigation for his novels.
Technical and Operational Details
All technical details are drawn from official French maritime sources and monument listings. The keeper's life in the 19th century involved living with their families in the adjoining keeper's house, working in three-shift rotations to maintain the lamp and clockwork rotation mechanism.
Further Information
English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatteville_lighthouse
French heritage listing (Base Mérimée): FRPA0010226
SHOM nautical chart 6912 “Manche Est”
ANFR database (08/2019) for station ref. 472650
Local guidebook: “Les Phares de Normandie,” Éditions Ouest-France, 2015.
Details
| Name | Gatteville Lighthouse |
|---|---|
| City | Gatteville-le-Phare |
| Country | France |
| Coordinates | 49.6964169, -1.2658841 |
| Year of construction | 1835 |
| Events | During World War II, the site was occupied by German forces, who installed anti-aircraft guns on the roof; the lamp was extinguished for the duration. |
| Historic significance | Listed as Monument historique (France) |
| Keeper stories | Keeper Jean-Baptiste Le Roux is said to have guided a dismasted brig into Barfleur harbour during a gale, saving all hands. |
| Stories | Legend holds that the keeper Jean-Baptiste Le Roux, who served in the mid-19th century, once guided a dismasted brig into Barfleur harbour during a gale, saving all hands. |
| Architectural style | Classical cylindrical masonry tower with gallery and lantern |
| Construction material | "Locally quarried granite blocks" |
| Focal height | 70 |
| Tower height | 75.3 |
| Renovations | Since 1988; served remotely from CROSS Gris-Nez |
| Access description | By car: D650 from Barfleur (5 km east), parking on-site. By bus: Regional line from Cherbourg, stop “Gatteville-le-Phare Phare.” On foot / cycle: Coastal path (GR®223), parking at the access trailhead. |
| Accessible | true |
| Parking | true |
| Landscape type | rocky coast |
| View description | Panoramic views over the Raz Blanchard, Barfleur harbour and the îles Saint-Marcouf. |
| Guided tours | true |
| Facilities | Visitor centre, small maritime museum, gift shop, restrooms |
| Nearby attractions | ["Barfleur, historic fishing port (5 km west)","Plage de Gatteville, sandy beach and dune system immediately south.","Fort du Cap Lévi (20 km north), WWII fortifications."] |
| AIS Radar | true |
| Light characteristic | "Fl (3) W 15 s" |
| Light range | 27 |
| Automated | true |