Name and Location

Phare de la Coubre, also known as La Coubre Lighthouse, is a major coastal lighthouse located at the Pointe de la Coubre on the Atlantic coast of southwest France. Its address is Lieu-dit La Coubre, 17390 La Tremblade, Charente-Maritime, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The coordinates are 45°41′47″ N, 1°13′59″ W (decimal 45.6965168, –1.2332441).

Construction and History

The Phare de la Coubre was built in the early 20th century to replace earlier, smaller beacons as shipping traffic into Bordeaux and the Charente estuary grew. The lighthouse was first lit in December 1905. It has twice been relocated farther inland (in 1895 and again in 1905) as the shoreline advanced. The lighthouse was listed as a Monument Historique on April 15, 2011.

Architecture and Materials

The Phare de la Coubre is a white, slightly truncated conical tower with a lantern and gallery. It stands at an overall height of 65 meters and has a focal height of 64 meters above sea level. The tower is made of reinforced concrete, painted white, with a red roof on the lantern room. Internal access to the panoramic gallery is via a spiral staircase.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse's optical apparatus features a group flashing characteristic—Fl(2) W, 10-second period (flash 0.1 second, eclipse 2.4 seconds, flash 0.1 second, eclipse 7.4 seconds). The range of the light is 28 nautical miles. Originally equipped with a first-order Fresnel lens, the lighthouse now uses automated modern optics.

Accessibility and Visiting

The Phare de la Coubre is open to visitors during the seasonal schedule (usually April through September). Visitors can climb approximately 300 steps to the gallery for a 360-degree view of the Atlantic beaches, the dune forest, and the Arcachon basin. On-site facilities include a ticket office and small souvenir shop.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic beaches, the dune system of the Côte Sauvage, and the Gironde estuary. The adjacent Forêt Domaniale de la Coubre features walking and cycling paths, while nearby lie the unspoiled sands ideal for surfing and bird-watching.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The lighthouse has a fascinating history of being relocated twice due to shifting shores. Local oral history recounts the isolated life of early keepers, whose families sometimes lived on-site for weeks at a time, often beset by Atlantic storms.

Technical and Operational Details

The Phare de la Coubre is fully automated and no longer staffed by keepers. The managing authority is the Service des Phares et Balises (French Lighthouse Authority), under the Ministère de la Mer (formerly Ministère de l’Écologie).

Further Information

• 1. French Wikipedia: "Phare de la Coubre" (fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_de_la_Coubre)
• 2. ANFR database (08/2019)
• 3. Data.gouv.fr – Ministère de la Culture (Monuments Historiques – PA17000095)
• 4. US NGA List – Pub. 113 (2010)