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Origin and history

The Hague Lighthouse, also known as the Goury Lighthouse, is erected on the Gros-du-Raz Rock, 800 metres off the Cap de la Hague, in the English Channel. This lighthouse, built between 1834 and 1837 under the direction of engineer Charles-Félix Morice de la Rue, marks the northern entrance of the Déroute crossing and signals the raz Blanchard, a dreadful marine current between the Cotentin and the island of Aurigny. It is the first French lighthouse built on a rock of only ten meters radius, a technical feat for the era.

The decision to build this lighthouse was made after a series of dramatic shipwrecks in 1823, including that of the American ship Paris from New York. Although the Gatteville lighthouse already exists nearby, the danger of currents, the magnitude of the tides and the presence of reefs such as the Foraine justified the construction of an additional fire. The 52-metre granite cylindrical tower of Flamanville was commissioned on November 1, 1837 with a fixed optic, later replaced by more efficient systems, including a mercury tank in 1905.

The lighthouse underwent several technical changes: electrification in 1971, automation in 1989, and departure of the last guards in May 1990. It was extinguished during the two world wars. Its current lens, installed in 1950, produces white radiance every 5 seconds with a range of 19 miles (34 km). The lantern, with a diameter of 4 meters, overlooks a neo-classical structure marked by an astragal and an external double staircase, innovation of Morice de la Rue to improve the living conditions of the guards.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 2009, the Goury Lighthouse remains a symbol of 19th century maritime challenges. It is now managed by the Interregional Directorate of the Sea (DRIM) East Channel – North Sea. A helicopter platform, added much later, facilitates maintenance work. In front of the lighthouse, the SNSM station of Goury, octagonal and equipped with two holds, has been watching for rescue at sea since 1871.

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