Written on : 07 November 2019 By : Melchior Burin des Roziers
The charm of Île de Ré is found along the coast. Not to mention the magnificent beaches, the island also has a few lighthouses that you can spot from afar. During a walk, you can discover these towering monuments which extend alone in front of the sea.
On the western tip of Ré, in the town of Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, these two listed lighthouses form a couple of the same name. It is said that their name comes from the fact that a multitude of whales had come to this place in the past.
The first is an old tower built in 1682 as part of a vast programme initiated by Vauban: it was necessary to protect the coasts, monitor marine traffic and avoid the increasing number of shipwrecks. This old three-storey building, accessible by a spiral staircase, was once an outpost for the defence of the Rochefort arsenal. If the tower cannot be visited today, a museum is located at the foot of it and presents multimedia animations created with the help of Jamy from French TV show, "C'est pas sorcier".
The second lighthouse replaced the first (as it was considered as not effective) and became one of the most powerful lighthouses on the Atlantic coast from 1854 onwards. At 57 metres high and 257 steps, it offers a remarkable panoramic view when the weather permits. You can then observe the rest of the island, the sea and the beach of Conche and see in the distance the coasts of Vendée and the islands of Aix and Oléron. Its range is 50 kilometres! This marvel of the architect Reynaud is distinguished by its octagonal shape and its structure based on Crazannes limestone.
After your ascent by the very beautiful staircase of the Whales Lighthouse, do not hesitate to bring back a small souvenir from the bookstore. You can then enjoy the Whales Park: 2 hectares of greenery created by landscape architect Perrier in 1861, surrounding the lighthouse.
3 kilometres from the tip of the Whale Lighthouse, in the northwest of the island, another 31-metre long building is isolated on a rocky strip: it is the Whale Lighthouse. Also built by Léonce Reynaud between 1849 and 1854, this white fixed fire culminates at the top of a cylindrical tower made of stone-masonry. It has almost never been manned and was one of the first lighthouses in France to be automated. Too bad for you, this lighthouse is situated in the open sea and classified as a historical monument, meaning it cannot be visited. But you may have the opportunity to approach it by boat. Then you will find that cormorants love to take advantage of the viewpoint to dry themselves after a fishing trip.
Chauveau Lighthouse
Off Rivedoux-Plage, this pretty red and white lighthouse planted in the water is located 1200 metres from the tip of the city. It was built to indicate a rocky bar and is the work of the architect Garnier and the engineer Potel. The light of this guarded tower was first lit on March 1, 1842. Trumpet-shaped lighthouse, its base is flared and has a concave profile, which allows it to remain stoic in the face of wave power. Its truncated conical silhouette makes it the thinnest of all the towers built at sea. Inside, each of the 5 rooms is accessed by means of a miller's ladder. Period furniture has remained in its place but the lighthouse is not open to the public. However, the Chauveau Bank is ideal for fishing on foot and can be accessed by walking during low tide.
Lighthouse of Saint-Martin-de-Ré... and his smaller friends
To the north of Ile de Ré, facing the Breton Pertuis, this small lighthouse indicates the position of the entrance to the port of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. It takes the form of a white and red tower 9 metres high, on the Vauban walls that protect the port and is accompanied by a small green and white beacon.
In the small lighthouse family, you may have the opportunity to see other specimens on the island.
For example, the Chanchardon lighthouse (9 metres high), visible from the municipalities of Bois-Plage, Sainte-Marie, La Couarde-sur-Mer and Ars-en-Ré.
Ars-en-Ré has a small, very mysterious lighthouse, 7 metres tall and 300 metres from the sea! It is therefore not easy to observe it from afar and one wonders what its use may have been in the past.
Otherwise, there is the Lavardin tower located to the west of the island which can be seen from the bridge of Ile de Ré, the Îlates tower (6 metres) of yellow and black is accompanied by a pretty little lighthouse, Fleotte (8 metres) located near the ruined abbey of Les Châteliers.
So, now you know everything about the lighthouses on Île de Ré. Even if you miss one of them, you will still amaze everyone with your remarkable knowledge!
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