Phare de Grave, Historic lighthouse in Royan, France.
The 29.2-meter (96-foot) tower rises at the Gironde estuary entrance, forming a cylindrical stone structure with characteristic white paint. The building comprises several floors containing service quarters, technical facilities and a small chapel in the lower sections. The lantern at the summit houses an automated optical system that projects light signals across Atlantic waters.
Léonce Reynaud designed this navigation marker in 1860 to guide merchant vessels through dangerous currents along the southwestern Atlantic coast. Keeper families operated the oil lamps and later electrical systems until the late 20th century, before full automation was implemented. Upgrades in the 1970s replaced the original optics with contemporary technology, while the stone structure retained its historic form.
The tower served for generations as a navigation reference for merchant vessels in the wine trade between Bordeaux and Atlantic ports, symbolizing the maritime identity of the estuary region. Fishermen and sailors regarded the beacon as a protective marker on homeward journeys, while local families respected the lighthouse keeper profession as an honorable calling. Former mariners now lead visitors through the structure, sharing stories about seafaring traditions.
The navigation station sits in Le Verdon-sur-Mer, reached by a 1.2-mile walk along the coast from the town center. Tours run between June and September, with advance booking recommended through local tourism offices. The climb involves steep spiral stairs unsuitable for those with limited mobility, and sturdy footwear is necessary due to partially exposed outdoor sections.
A 260-meter (850-foot) stone pier connects the shore to the tower foundation, allowing dry-footed arrival at low tide. Tidal fluctuations expose extensive sandbanks twice daily, used by shellfish gatherers and nature observers during ebb periods. The position on the pier protects the foundation from direct wave erosion, while seagull colonies nest on the rock blocks.
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