Name and Location

Phare de la Pointe des Corbeaux, commonly called Phare des Corbeaux, is an active coastal lighthouse marking the western tip of L’Île-d’Yeu in the Bay of Biscay (Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France). The address is Phare de la Pointe des Corbeaux, La Pointe des Corbeaux, 85350 L’Île-d’Yeu, France. The coordinates are 46°41′24.7″ N, 2°17′05.2″ W (lat 46.690189 / lon –2.284769).

2. Construction and History

The first lighthouse on the site was built in 1862 under the Second French Empire. The original tower was destroyed by retreating German forces in August 1944. A new tower was erected in 1950 and electrified/automated soon thereafter.

3. Architecture and Materials

The construction era is 1950 (post-WWII reconstruction). The architectural style is simple cylindrical granite tower with gallery and lantern room. Construction materials are local granite masonry (tower) and cast-iron lantern. The tower height is 30 meters above base, with a focal plane approximately 32 meters above mean sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The light range data is not publicly specified (typical range for this class is 15–20 nautical miles). The light characteristic is not available in open sources. The lighthouse is fully automated; unmanned since mid-20th century. Navigational aids are ordinary rotational optic; no dedicated AIS or radar installation publicly declared.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The site and cliff-top paths around the lighthouse are freely accessible year-round. The tower interior and lantern room are closed to the public. Access on foot via the GR 8 coastal trail from Port-Joinville (approximately 4 km) or by local taxi services. Parking and picnic areas are available nearby on the Pointe des Corbeaux.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The surroundings feature dramatic granite shorelines, heathland, and maritime pines dominating the promontory. Adjacent sites include Pointe du But (east), Plage de la Guerce (north), small rocky islets. Wildlife includes seabirds (gulls, cormorants), occasional seals in offshore rocks.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

The name “Corbeaux” (“Crows”) may derive from early sailors’ reports of flocks of seabirds (often called “crows” in local dialect) roosting on the rocks. During World War II, the keeper’s quarters were evacuated; local accounts recall the keepers’ narrow escape before the German demolition.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The managing authority is Service des phares et balises (under the French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service – SHOM, in partnership with ANFR). The lighthouse is listed as Monument historique (ref. PA85000046) on 1 December 2011 by the French Ministry of Culture.

9. Further Information

For further information, consult IGN / ANFR (2019), “Cartographie réglementaire des phares”; Ministère de la Culture (Base Mérimée): PA85000046; Wikidata Q3378494; French Wikipedia: fr:Phare de la Pointe-des-Corbeaux.