Name and Location

The Grand Phare de Soumard, also known simply as the "Soumard Light," is an active minor navigational aid located on the Atlantic coast of France, specifically in Fouras (postal code 17450), Charente-Maritime, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The coordinates are 45°57′50″ N, 1°03′58″ W (Decimal: 45.9639093, –1.0662069).

Construction and History

The Grand Phare de Soumard was constructed without a documented date of construction. Although there is little published information on its history, the lighthouse has been recognized as a functional minor light by contemporary maritime publications.

Architecture and Materials

The Grand Phare de Soumard is a type of minor harbour/approach light with a tower height of 21 m above ground level. The structural materials used are likely masonry or reinforced concrete typical of 20th-century French small lights. Unfortunately, there is no definitive description available regarding the appearance of the lighthouse.

Light and Navigation

The Grand Phare de Soumard features a quick flashing red (Q R) light character with a focal plane approximately 21 m above mean sea level. The range is 20 nautical miles. The sectors where the red light is visible include Sector 1, from bearing 113° to 117°, and exactly at 115°.

Accessibility and Visiting

The Grand Phare de Soumard is not open to the public. It can be accessed only by foot or by boat, with minimal parking and signage available. The location is on an unmarked "Route Sans Nom" off the main highway, likely on restricted service land or breakwater.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape of the Grand Phare de Soumard is shaped by salt marshes, sandy beaches, and tidal flats. Nearby attractions include Fort Vauban (on Fouras Island), the beaches of La Roubine, and the historic port of La Rochelle to the north.

Anecdotes and Folklore

There are no widely published tales of shipwrecks or famous keepers specifically linked to Grand Phare de Soumard. However, local fishermen depend on its precise red sector to avoid shoals at the river mouth.

Technical and Operational Details

The Grand Phare de Soumard is presumed fully automated, with no keeper's quarters recorded. The managing authority is the French maritime safety service under the Ministère de la Mer (Direction Interrégionale de la Mer – Arc Atlantique). There is no public record of an AIS or radar installation at this minor light.

Further Information

For further reading and references, consult NGA List of Lights, Pub. 113 (Atlantic Coast of Europe), SHOM Nautical Charts, Card D 1257.1, "Lighthouses of France" (in French: Phares et Balises), and OpenStreetMap feature way/189956297.