Photo : François de Dijon / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lighthouses · GirondeWorth a visit
Phare de Cordouan
The Cordouan lighthouse stands on a rocky islet off the Pointe de Grave, at the mouth of the Gironde estuary. Built from the late sixteenth century, raised in the eighteenth, it is the oldest lighthouse in France still in operation and remains a monument of great elegance, with its chapel, royal apartments and carved stone decoration. It is inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage.
It is reached by boat, from Le Verdon-sur-Mer or Royan, depending on timetables and tides. The crossing and the climb of the tower, with its many steps, offer an original experience and a spectacular view over the estuary and the ocean. It is advisable to book and check weather conditions before leaving.
In our collectionsThe UNESCO sites of France
In our guidesDiscovering Gironde: a practical guide
