Marking the coasts of the Gironde
The Cordouan lighthouse The lighthouse, located at 7 km from the sides, secures the mouth of the Gironde estuary since 1611. It is the oldest French lighthouse still in activity. For 400 years, it has been indicating to navigators coming from the open sea the possible dangers approaching the coast.
A monument to royalty
Classified as a historical monument in 1862, the "Lighthouse of the Kings" owes its nickname to its prestigious patron, who was none other than Henry III. After his death, Henry IV continued the masterpiece. The construction lasted 25 years and many French architects and engineers were involved in making Cordouan a true monument in the middle of the sea. In 1823, Augustin Fresnel even tested his echelon lens of the same name, which revolutionized the lighting system and is still in use today throughout the world.
The Cordouan Lighthouse is also the only lighthouse that can be visited at low tide . Thus, each year 20,000 visitors come to climb its 301 steps that lead to the lantern which culminates at 68 m height.
A file carried since 2016
As early as 2016, many French institutions - Ministries of Ecological Transition and Solidarity, Culture and the Sea, among others - and many citizens had mobilized so that Cordouan would be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a real victory for all the actors involved in this project, after 5 years of work.
The Cordouan Lighthouse is the second lighthouse after the Tower of Hercules, a land-based lighthouse in La Coruña, Spain, to be included in the list of cultural heritage.
"The decision of the World Heritage Committee recognizes the efforts of generations of men and women who have preserved, developed and passed on this monument for over 400 years, says Annick Girardin, Minister of the Sea. "The inscription on the World Heritage List is great news for our country, but it implies a great responsibility, that of continuing to preserve this exceptional site for future generations. After guiding thousands of sailors and their boats, this lighthouse continues to symbolize French engineering and has a special place in our national maritime heritage."
