Chassiron lighthouse, Lighthouse in Saint-Denis-d'Oléron, France
The 43-meter stone lighthouse features three black stripes painted on its white structure, distinguishing it from other coastal beacons in the region.
Built in 1836 to replace the original Colbert Tower from 1685, the lighthouse guides vessels through the dangerous waters of Pertuis d'Antioche.
The maritime garden surrounding the lighthouse displays a compass rose design with 21 rose varieties and represents local nautical traditions.
Visitors can climb 224 steps to reach the observation platform, with admission fees of 4 euros for adults and 2.80 euros for children.
The lighthouse employs a 250-watt metal halide bulb system that projects eight beams visible up to 52 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean.
Location: Saint-Denis-d'Oléron
Inception: 1836
Height: 43 m
Made from material: stone
GPS coordinates: 46.04670,-1.41028
Latest update: August 1, 2025 12:56
Maritime lighthouses guiding ships along the coasts of metropolitan France. Stone, granite, and limestone towers rise on capes, islands, and peninsulas. These historical structures, dating from the 17th to 20th century, ensure maritime navigation. Notable lighthouses include Cordouan, the oldest active lighthouse in France, and Île Vierge, the highest stone structure in Europe. Some are positioned at sea, like La Jument and La Vieille, others on the coast like Eckmühl with its 307 steps. These lighthouses demonstrate French maritime engineering.
Oléron Island, the largest island in mainland France after Corsica, features a military, maritime, and natural heritage reflecting its strategic position facing the Atlantic Ocean. This Charente island, connected to the mainland since 1966 by a nearly three-kilometer-long bridge, houses fortifications built under Louis XIV, such as the Citadel of Château d'Oléron and Fort Louvois, as well as the famous Fort Boyard positioned on its sandbank offshore. The Chassiron Lighthouse, standing at forty-six meters high, marks the northern tip of the island and guides ships through the waters of the Pertuis d'Antioche. Beyond its defensive legacy, the island offers various natural areas where sandy beaches, pine forests, and salt marshes alternate. Saint-Trojan-les-Bains extends its wooded shoreline to the south, while Boyardville features a protected coast on its eastern side. Visitors also observe oyster farming along the La Baudissière channel and explore the colorful huts that house artist workshops at the port of Château d'Oléron. The Saltworks Museum traces the history of salt extraction, a resource that shaped the local economy for centuries.
Train touristique du Phare de Chassiron
264 m
Plage de la Brée
5.3 km
Lanterne des morts de Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron
13.9 km
Église Saint-Pierre de Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron
14 km
Église de Saint-Georges-d'Oléron
9.7 km
Camping Le Suroit
11.4 km
Château de Bonnemie
13.6 km
Plage de la Gautrelle
11.1 km
Église de Sainte-Marie-de-Ré
13.7 km
Église Saint-Denys de Saint-Denis-d'Oléron
3 km
Plage des Huttes
6.2 km
Plage de Montamer
12.9 km
Église Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Nicolas de La Cotinière
14 km
Plage de Gros Jonc
14 km
Plage de la Salée
12.9 km
Plage naturiste
12.8 km
Plage des Gouillauds
13.4 km
Plage de La Biroire
13.6 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de La Brée-les-Bains
6.1 km
Église Saint-Fort
13.9 km
Plage de la Boirie
3.3 km
Eglise paroissale Sainte-Marie de Ré
13.7 km
Les Placelles
12.1 km
Plage des Sables Vigniers
9.6 km
Plage de la Basse Benaie
13.1 km
Chapelle Saint-Sauveur de Sainte-Marie-de-Ré
13.1 km
Plage de Soubregeon
2.5 km
Temple de Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron
13.9 kmReviews
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Magnificent lighthouse and gardens. Wild coast
Magnificent lighthouse and gardens. Wild coast
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