Unknown
21 Av. des Goélands, 14160 Dives-sur-Mer, France
Name and Location
The Dives-sur-Mer Port Lighthouse is located at 21 Avenue des Goélands in Dives-sur-Mer, a small seaside town in the Calvados department of Normandy, France. The exact coordinates are 49°17′40.05″ N, 0°06′06.35″ W (WGS 84).
Construction and History
The construction date of this lighthouse is unknown, although it is believed to be from the late 19th or early 20th century. The structure is a simple cylindrical masonry tower built directly on the quay.
Architecture and Materials
The lighthouse has an overall height estimated under 8 meters and is made of local stone or brick with a whitewash finish.
Light and Navigation
The light characteristic of this lighthouse is not recorded, suggesting it may function as a daymark only. It is presumed unmanned and fixed, with no keeper's quarters attached.
Accessibility and Visiting
The lighthouse can be approached freely from the harbor side, but the tower itself is not open to the public. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the English Channel, the Côte Fleurie coastline, and the estuary at low tide.
Notable Views and Landscape
- Sandy beaches to the east
- Norman bocage countryside to the west
- Nearby attractions such as medieval timber-framed houses, a 12th-century church, and William the Conqueror's embarkation point
Anecdotes and Folklore
Local lore tells of fishermen's families keeping simple oil-fed lights here in former times, but no written record of dedicated keepers survives. The structure was last renovated in the early 2010s.
Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse is not officially listed in the Base Mérimée or UNESCO registers. It is likely managed by the Maritime Affairs Service (Affaires Maritimes) or the local port authority, Ports Normandie.
Further Information
Additional information can be found on OpenStreetMap ("way/100161081"), French Cadastre DGI (2011 update), Municipal website of Dives-sur-Mer (tourism section), and SHOM nautical charts for Normandy coastal navigation.
Details
| Name | Unknown |
|---|---|
| City | Dives-sur-Mer |
| Country | France |
| Coordinates | 49.294459, -0.101764 |
| Stories | Local lore tells of fishermen’s families keeping simple oil-fed lights here in former times |
| Architectural style | Simple cylindrical masonry |
| Construction material | Local stone or brick with a whitewash finish |
| Renovations | Last renovated (re-whitewashed and repointed) in the early 2010s |
| Access description | Easily reached on foot from the town center (about 15 minutes’ walk along the sea wall) or by bicycle via the coastal path. |
| Accessible | true |
| Landscape type | Sandy beaches and Norman bocage countryside |
| View description | Panoramic outlook over the English Channel, the Côte Fleurie coastline toward Cabourg, and, at low tide, the mudflats of the estuary. |
| Nearby attractions | The medieval timber-framed houses of Dives-sur-Mer’s historic center, The church of Notre-Dame (12th century) and the ruins of William the Conqueror’s embarkation point, Plage de Dives-sur-Mer (sandy beach and tidal basins), Horse-drawn carriage rides along the riverbank |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | Not recorded |
| Automated | true |