Phare du Grand Rouveau, Maritime lighthouse on Grand Rouveau Island, France
The Grand Rouveau lighthouse is a maritime beacon located on a small island off the coast of Six-Fours-les-Plages in France. The complex features a central tower rising approximately 13 meters, accompanied by two wings with tiled roofs, all connected by paved platforms that unite the structures.
Construction took place between 1861 and 1863 under the direction of architect Léonce Reynaud, who selected Cassis stone for the foundations and corner reinforcements. Once completed, the structure began its role as a navigational aid for maritime traffic.
The lighthouse is named after the Grand Rouveau islet in the Embiez archipelago, which belongs to the commune of Six-Fours-les-Plages. Its light guides vessels toward the Brusc anchorage and the approaches to the ports of Bandol. The site is not open to visitors and has had no keeper since automation in 1976.
The lighthouse itself is not open to visitors and is unguarded, remotely controlled from the Porquerolles station. A carriageable path runs from the island's small port up to the lighthouse platform, and the schist store building along it was renovated by the Conservatoire du Littoral.
The light's fixed 50 cm focal lens replaced the original rotating optic in 1904; its mercury tank was removed. The lantern is a standard 2.5 m model with three levels of white glass. Since 1976 the lighthouse has been automated and is telecontrolled from the Porquerolles station, so no keeper lives on the island.
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