Name and Location

The Phare de Chassiron, also known as the Chassiron Lighthouse, is located in Saint-Denis-d’Oléron, Charente-Maritime, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. Its coordinates are 46°02′48.1″ N, 1°24′37.0″ W.

Construction and History

The Phare de Chassiron was built in the mid-19th century to replace an earlier tower erected in 1685. The current tower was constructed between 1834 and 1840 using locally quarried limestone. It was first lit in 1840 and has since undergone several upgrades, including electrification and automation in 1972.

Architecture and Materials

The Phare de Chassiron is a cylindrical masonry tower with a gallery and lantern, standing at a height of 46 meters (150 feet) above ground and approximately 60 meters (197 feet) above sea level. The tower is made of cut limestone ashlar from Oléron quarries, with a dressed stone base. Internal access is via a 224-step stone spiral staircase.

Light and Navigation

The Phare de Chassiron features a third-order Fresnel lens (original) and currently uses a modern rotating optic. Its light characteristic is a group of three white flashes every 15 seconds. The nominal range is approximately 28 nautical miles (52 kilometers) in clear weather, with a sector marking of white over the sea approaches.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is open from mid-March to early November, with hours generally between 10 am and 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm. Admission fees range from approximately €4 to €6 for adults, with reduced rates for children and groups. Facilities include a ticket office, gift shop, small exhibition on lighthouse history, and restrooms.

Notable Views and Landscape

Perched on rocky cliffs at the northwestern tip of Oléron Island, Chassiron commands sweeping views of the Pertuis d’Antioche (Fort Louvois and Fort Boyard in the distance), the beaches and polders of Oléron’s le Chéray marshes, and coastal towns such as Fouras and Île d’Aix on clear days.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The lighthouse is nicknamed "Le phare à damiers" ("the checkered lighthouse") due to its alternately painted black-and-white lantern roof (historical). Local folklore tells of wrecked Spanish galleons on the Chassiron rocks in the 17th century, prompting construction of the first beacon. Keeper lore recounts the tradition of ringing a small bell ashore each morning to warn local fishermen of fog.

Technical and Operational Details

The Phare de Chassiron is fully automated and remote-controlled. Its SHOM chart reference is 6533 (Pertuis d’Antioche – île d’Oléron), Admiralty A3934, and ARLHS FRA-033.

Further Information

For further reading and references, consult the French Ministry of Culture database (PA17000091), SHOM chart 6533, Regional tourism office Île d’Oléron official website, and Wikipedia (French).