Phare de Fromentine, Lighthouse in La Barre-de-Monts, France
The Phare de Fromentine is a metal lighthouse on the coast of La Barre-de-Monts in the Vendée, western France. It stands just over 30 feet (around 10 meters) tall, narrow and tapering toward the top, with a white color that stands out against the sky.
The tower was designed in the late 19th century by an engineer named Raynaud and was originally meant for the Pointe du Raz in Brittany. In 1915 it was dismantled, shipped to Fromentine, and reassembled there to serve the growing boat traffic toward the nearby islands, and it was classified as a historic monument in 2012.
The lighthouse at Fromentine stands at the crossing point for boats heading to the Île de Noirmoutier, making it a familiar landmark for people whose daily lives are tied to the sea. Benches near its base invite visitors to sit and watch the steady back-and-forth of small vessels.
The tower can be seen freely from outside since a blue wooden barrier prevents access to the interior. The best view comes from walking along the Avenue du Phare, where the full outline of the structure is easy to take in.
Unlike most lighthouses on the French Atlantic coast, which are built from stone or concrete, this tower is made entirely of metal, making it a one-of-a-kind structure in the Vendée. Its lamp was not converted to electricity until 1939, meaning a keeper filled it with oil each evening using a copper watering can.
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