Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The lighthouse of the Pointe des Dames is built in the wood of the Chair, on the northeast of the island of Noirmoutier, in Vendée. Built between 1865 and 1867, it consists of a square turret of 18.70 meters above a house body, with a fixed light with white and red sides. In 1910, the tower was completely painted in white, abandoning its original partially red appearance. This lighthouse, still guarded but not visitable, has been automated and remote controlled since 2002.

The site includes outbuildings, a well and a menhir, reflecting its integration into a natural and historical environment. Its optics, initially powered by vegetable oil (1867), then mineral (circa 1875) and petroleum (1909), evolve into a modern electrical system. Since 1950, it emits a three-obscured light every 12 seconds, with white, red and green sectors, and a 16.5 mile range.

Ranked a historic monument in 2011, the lighthouse retains its original architecture: a square tower made of coated stone masonry, surmounting a rectangular house with apparent chains of angles. Its 2,500 m2 plot also houses ancillary buildings, testimony to its functional and heritage role. Despite its automation, it remains symbolic of the maritime history of Sales.

The location of the lighthouse, at the point of ladies, makes it a strategic landmark for navigation in this coastal zone. Its inclusion in the register of historical monuments underlines its architectural and technical importance, as well as its preservation in the state since its construction. Today, although not accessible to the public, it continues to play an active role in maritime signage.

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