Name and Location

The Phare de Cordouan, also known as the "Versailles of the Sea" due to its elegant classical architecture, is located on the Atlantic coast of France at the Plateau de Cordouan. The nearest mainland point is Le Verdon-sur-Mer in Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The lighthouse's coordinates are 45.5863198 N, –1.1733254 E.

2. Construction and History

The earliest beacon on the Cordouan shoal dates back to the late 16th/early 17th century (1611). The present tower was largely completed in the late 18th century, and the site was inscribed as a Monument Historique in 1862. In 2021, the Phare de Cordouan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse's style is French classical (sometimes described as Neoclassical), with a construction material of dressed limestone blocks quarried locally. The tower stands at a height of 67.5 meters above the rock foundation, with a focal height of main light at 60 meters above sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse's light characteristic is an occulting group (2 + 1) every 12 seconds. The sectors and ranges include white sectors (two separate arcs and a short arc) with a range of 19 nautical miles, green sector with a range of 15 nautical miles, and red sectors (two small sidelight arcs) with a range of 16 nautical miles.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is accessible by boat only, with regular summer shuttles from Le Verdon-sur-Mer. Guided tours of the interior are available when weather permits. Facilities are on board the tour boats, but there is no landing stage – passengers disembark by tender. The best time to visit is at high tide and calm sea for safe landing on the rocky plateau.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The Phare de Cordouan stands isolated at the mouth of the Gironde estuary on a tidal rock plateau, offering panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean, the Medoc coastline, and (on clear days) the Cordouan chapel roof. The surrounding area is known for its rich birdlife and occasional seals on nearby sandbanks.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

The Phare de Cordouan has been referred to as "the King of Lighthouses" due to its age and architectural quality. Until automation in 2007, the lighthouse was home to the last French lighthouse keepers, who lived in isolation (anecdotal accounts of their life are available in specialist publications).

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and remotely monitored by the French Lighthouse and Beacon Authority (ANFR). There are no permanent keepers on site.

9. Further Information

Recommended reading includes "Cordouan, the Royal Lighthouse" by Stéphane Porterie, éditions de La Boutonnière, 2019, as well as SHOM Pilot Guide, Atlantic Coast of France (Volumes on Gironde estuary).