Gatteville-le-Phare, commune in Manche, France
Gatteville-le-Phare is a small commune in Normandy on the Manche coast. The village is dominated by an impressive lighthouse built from roughly 11,000 hand-cut granite blocks stacked into a solid cylindrical tower.
The lighthouse was built between 1829 and 1834 to guide ships through the English Channel and warn sailors of coastal dangers. Since its completion, it has continuously served as a navigation aid and remains operational today.
The village takes its name from the lighthouse that has defined its identity since the 19th century and remains central to local life. Residents maintain a deep connection to maritime heritage, visible in how they speak about their home and the role the tower plays in their daily surroundings.
Access to the lighthouse is via a long pier, with a stairway of 365 steps to the top that takes roughly ten minutes to climb. Strong winds or storms close the tower for safety reasons, making calm weather the best time to visit.
The lighthouse stands 75 meters tall, making it the second-highest in France, with its light beam visible from far across the water. From the observation platform at the summit, visitors overlook the Val de Saire and vast sea, creating a sense of standing at the edge of the world.
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