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Explore the Biarritz, France lighthouse and others on La Vélodyssée

Keep an eye out along your lighthouse cycling route on La Vélodyssée

Maritime lighthouses provide information, help sailors get their bearings and represent part of France’s architectural and technical heritage.

You will likely come across one as you travel on La Vélodyssée. These lighthouses will appear throughout your adventure and you can see them from the trail or by taking a small detour (like those on islands). Read on for a quick overview so you can tell everyone about these seaside monuments before or during your trip.

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Île de Batz lighthouse:

Construction of this lighthouse on the western tip of Île de Batz was completed in 1837. Climb 44 metres to the top on the lighthouse’s 198 steps to enjoy a breathtaking view of the island, channel, Baie de Morlaix and Sept-Îles, as well as a silhouette of the Monts d’Arrée.

The former keeper’s living quarters on the first floor now host the Batz avec les vents [Batz with the winds] exhibition. The ground floor has a strange control room from which you can see the view from the top of the lighthouse if you do not want to climb 198 steps! Learn more about visiting this attraction (only in French).

It has been listed as a historical French monument since 2015.

Des Dames lighthouse:

This 18.77 metres tall lighthouse is located on île de Noirmoutier at Pointe des Dames in the Chaize forest. Built between 1865 and 1867, the Pointe des Dames lighthouse has been guiding sailors since construction began, except during a suspension between 1954 and 1955. The lighthouse is a gabled building that serves as the keeper’s quarters. The turret containing the lantern is attached to the gabled roof.

It has been listed as a historical French monument since 29 November 2011.

It is now automated and has a keeper, but is not open for visiting.

Île d’Yeu Grand Phare lighthouse:

This 37.50 metres tall lighthouse is located on the Petite Foule mound in the northern part of Île d’Yeu.

The lighthouse you see today was not always there. The first one was erected in 1830 then destroyed on 25 August 1944 by German troops. The current lighthouse, with its modern lines, was built in 1951 to secure navigation in the southern Loire region. The lighthouse has been automated since 1980 and can still be visited.

The Île d’Yeu Grand Phare lighthouse has been included on the inventory of historical French monuments since 29 November 2011.

Learn more about visiting this attraction.

Des Corbeaux lighthouse:

This 19.20 metres tall lighthouse is located at the tip of Des Corbeaux on the southern end of Île d’Yeu.

The first lighthouse was built in 1862, but was destroyed by German troops on 25 August 1944 at the same time as the Grand Phare. It was rebuilt in 1950 with an Art Deco architectural style.

Its light reaches 18.5 miles (around 34 km). It is automated and controlled remotely from the Île d’Yeu Grand Phare lighthouse.

The Des Corbeaux lighthouse has been listed as a historical French monument since 1st December 2011.

Des Baleines lighthouse:

Rising 57 metres over Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, this lighthouse gives you a panoramic view of Île de Ré and the channels. It was built in 1849 to improve on the operations of the old tower constructed during Vauban’s time and was opened in 1854.

The old Baleines lighthouse was classified as a historical French monument in 1904. All of the Baleines lighthouse buildings and grounds, including the perimeter wall, were added in April 2011. And the Baleines lighthouse and equipment building built in the 19th century as well as the Baleineaux lighthouse have been classified as historical French monuments since October 2012.

You can visit the lighthouse and grounds all year long. Learn more about visiting (only in French).

Quai Valin lighthouse:

Located at the back of the Old Port’s harbour in La Rochelle, the Quai Valin lighthouse is a leading light built in 1852 at the same time as the lighthouse located at the base of Tour Saint-Nicolas in La Rochelle.

It was initially 18 metres tall and was raised by 6 metres in 1855 so that it would not be confused with the city lights. You can identify it by the octagonal tower of smooth white stone that is attached to the façade of a two-storey house with a Mansard roof.
Unmanned and automated, the lighthouse is still in operation, assisted by the lighthouse on the other side of the harbour, but it is not open for visits.

It has been listed as a historical French monument since 2011, just like its neighbour across the way.

Ile d'Aix lighthouse:

What makes the Île d'Aix lighthouse unique are the two 25.3 m towers, something that we agree is impossible to see in this photo!

The beacon tower was commissioned in 1841 and the screen tower was built in 1889. The tops of the towers are red now, but were originally black until 1995. The lighthouse cannot be visited, but it is still operating without any staff. The last keeper was Jacqueline Cochard who worked here from 1983 to 1994 when the lighthouse was automated. The lighthouse is also remotely controlled from the La Pallice port in La Rochelle.

It has been listed as a historical French monument since 2011.

Chassiron lighthouse:

Located at the northern end of the island near Saint-Denis-d’Oléron, the 50 metre Chassiron lighthouse is perched on a rocky cliff.

The first lighthouse tower was built by order Colbert in 1685. It was the second beacon built on the French coast after the Cordouan lighthouse. Originally entirely white, the lighthouse’s black stripes were removed to increase its visibility and limit confusion with its neighbour, the Baleines lighthouse.

It has been listed as a historical French monument since 2012.

Climb 224 steps and you will reach the lighthouse rotunda. It houses a museum focused on traditional fishing techniques, viticulture and market gardening. You can visit the lighthouse all year round. Visit the Chassiron lighthouse website for more information (only in French).

Terre-Nègre lighthouse:

Located in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer on the tip of Terre-Nègre, this lighthouse marks the Gironde estuary’s southern channel and indicates the presence of a dangerous sandbank.

The lighthouse was built sometime around 1770 but did not get its light until 1836 after various sailors made multiple requests to the Ministry of the Navy. During the Occupation, Wehrhmacht soldiers used the lighthouse as an observatory. After being damaged in the war, the lighthouse was restored immediately after it ended.
The lighthouse measures 26.60 metres and to reach the beacon, you have to climb 143 steps up a spiral staircase with a central core.

It has been listed as a historical French monument since 2011.

Grave lighthouse:

The Grave or Pointe de la Grave lighthouse is located in Le Verdon-sur-Mer.

Built in 1860, its architecture makes it easily recognisable with a square white tower and black corner stones. This is the third lighthouse on this site. The previous ones were destroyed by the sea or by humans.

The Grave lighthouse stands at 29.2 metres tall and is 35 metres above sea level. The lighthouse has been automated since 1955 and listed as a historical French monument since 2009.

The Musée du Phare de Cordouan et des Phares et Balises is located on the adjacent premises.

It is open for visits in the summer. Get more information.

CordouanEN.jpg

This masterpiece of French architectural and technical heritage is nicknamed the Versailles of the Sea and the King of Lighthouses. It has been in operation for four centuries! Built in 1611, the Cordouan lighthouse has undergone several demolitions and changes such as raising the tower height in 1790.

Located on the Cordouan plateau at the mouth of the Gironde estuary, the lighthouse reaches 67.50 metres.

It was the first lighthouse to be classified as a historical French monument in 1862. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2021.

Thanks to technology, you can take a virtual tour of the lighthouse and see how it has changed since it was built, See it by day or night, rain or shine, at high or low tide.

Cap-Ferret lighthouse:

Built on the Cap-Ferret peninsula, this 52 metres tall lighthouse is located between Arcachon Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Built in 1840, it was destroyed in 1944 during the German occupation. It was rebuilt in 1947 and has been automated since 1995. The Cap-Ferret lighthouse features imposing architecture and serves as a marker of Arcachon Bay’s maritime identity. Today, the lighthouse has a well-balanced mix of classic, original elements and more contemporary designs made with steel and glass. To reach the top, you have to climb 258 steps, but your reward at the end is a spectacular view.

The lighthouse has been listed as a historical French monument since 2009. It is still open to visitors and attracts a large number of tourists every year. Learn more about visiting this attraction (only in French). You can also take a virtual tour of the lighthouse.

Contis lighthouse:

Built in 1862, this lighthouse is located in Saint-Julien-en-Born on La Vélodyssée.

It was originally all white, then repainted in the thirties with two black Archimedes’ screw bands wrapping around the tower. It narrowly escaped destruction in 1944 when the Germans only bombed the beacon.

The unique Landes lighthouse stands at 38 metres tall holding its beacon 52 metres above sea level. It is now automated and has been listed as a historical French monument since 2009.

This lighthouse is open to visitors. To reach the dome, climb 184 steps on the cast-iron staircase and take in an exceptional panorama filled with the green forest, fine sand beach, dunes and the vast ocean.

Biarritz lighthouse:

Built in 1834, the Biarritz lighthouse overlooks Cape Hainsart, which marks the boundary between the sandy coast of Landes and Basque Country’s rocky coast.

This 47.5 metres tall lighthouse has 248 steps and stands 75 metres above sea level. Its copper dome is decorated with twelve different bronze lion heads that serve as gargoyles. The lighthouse has been listed as a historical French monument since 2009.

Fun fact: on 24 August 2019, a dinner for G7 heads of state and other government officials was held at the Biarritz lighthouse.

The lighthouse is open to visitors and can be seen from La Vélodyssée. Get more information about the attraction.

Now that you know all about the lighthouses on La Vélodyssée, all you have to do is hop on your bike to explore them.

Explore the Biarritz, France lighthouse and others on La Vélodyssée

Keep an eye out along your lighthouse cycling route on La Vélodyssée

Now that you know all about the lighthouses on La Vélodyssée, all you have to do is hop on your bike to explore them.

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