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Origin and history

The Cordouan lighthouse, located on the eponymous rocky plateau 7 km off the Verdon-sur-Mer (Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine), was built between 1584 and 1611 under the direction of engineer Louis de Foix. Commanded by the Marshal of Matignon in the presence of Michel de Montaigne, this royal lighthouse is designed as a "royal work" to secure the Gironde estuary, then a perilous navigation zone. Its Renaissance architecture, enriched with sumptuous decorations such as the King's apartment or a Marmorean chapel, earned it the nicknames of "Plasses of the Sea" or "king of lighthouses".

From the 11th century, hermit monks occupied the island of Cordouan, ringing a bell and lighting fires to guide the sailors, as evidenced by a charter of Cluny Abbey (1088). In the 14th century, the Black Prince, the son of Edward III of England, built a fortified tower abandoned two centuries later. The current construction began in 1584, but Louis de Foix died in 1602 before its completion. His son, then François Beuscher, completed the work in 1611. The lighthouse, originally 37 metres high, was enhanced to 60 metres in 1789 by Joseph Teulère, who installed the first parabolic streetlight.

Cordouan's lighthouse marks the history of maritime techniques: in 1823 it welcomed Fresnel's first lenticular aircraft, revolutionizing coastal lighting. Electrified in 1948 and automated in 2006, it remains a symbol of innovation, with a range of 22 nautical miles. Ranked as a Historic Monument in 1862 and registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, it attracts 24,000 annual visitors. His chapel, unique in the world in a lighthouse, still hosts religious ceremonies. Contemporary challenges include protection against marine erosion, as evidenced by the 2005 work (reinforced concrete).

Site management is now shared between the State (owner) and SMIDDEST, a joint union of local authorities (Gironde, Charente-Maritime, Nouvelle-Aquitaine). Although fully automated, the lighthouse retains a human presence for maintenance and public reception. Its access, limited to low tides, adds to its mystery. The guards, formerly housed on site, now rotate to preserve this exceptional heritage, witness to ten centuries of maritime history.

The architecture of the lighthouse combines Renaissance styles (lower floors) and Louis XVI (eighteenth century elevation). The base, built with 300 Charente-sized stones, houses tanks collecting rainwater, while the lantern peaks at 60.30 metres. The interiors house remarkable rooms such as the Girondins' Hall or the Watchroom, where the guards once provided permanent supervision. The lighthouse, visible 22 miles away, still guides the ships between the Atlantic and the estuary, between the west and south passes.

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