La Tour d'Arundel, Maritime lighthouse in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France.
La Tour d'Arundel is the square stone keep of the former Château Saint-Clair, built at the entrance of the port of Les Sables-d'Olonne in the 14th century by the princes of Talmont. Its terrace carries a small turret topped by a white octagonal lantern, the light of La Chaume. The tower is of exposed stone, and the keep rises directly from the sea wall.
The square keep of the former Château Saint-Clair was built in the 14th century by the Princes of Talmont at the entrance to the port of Les Sables-d'Olonne. Known in the 13th century as the phare de la Pierre-à-Masson, it was a rarely lit landmark mentioned during the Protestant attack of 1594. Sold as national property during the Revolution, it was fitted with a white beacon, bought back by the State in 1835, restored in 1855 with a fixed white light, and electrified in 1934.
The tower's courtyard has hosted the comedy festival Le Souffleur d'Arundel every summer since 2006. The site also houses the Musée de la Mer, open from April to September, and the tower long served as Les Sables-d'Olonne's only lighthouse before the Phare de l'Armandèche was added.
The tower houses the Musée de la Mer, open from April to September; the light itself has been automated since 1994 and still serves as part of the alignment lights for the harbour entrance. The terrace of the square keep, built of exposed stone, is reached from the La Chaume quarter at the harbour mouth.
The tower's courtyard has hosted the comedy festival Le Souffleur d'Arundel every summer since 2006. The tower also houses the Musée de la Mer, open from April to September, and a fog siren sits on the tip of its dome.
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