L'Armendèche Lighthouse

L'Armendèche Lighthouse is a French lighthouse located along the coast of the Vendée department; it is located in La Chaume, a district of Les Sables-d'Olonne. It was the last major lighthouse to be constructed on French territory, and takes its name from that of a place just down the coast.[3]

L'Armendèche Lighthouse
The lighthouse in 2011
L'Armendèche Lighthouse
France
LocationLes Sables-d'Olonne, Les Sables-d'Olonne, France
Coordinates46°29′23″N 01°48′17″W
Year first constructed1968
Automated1968
Constructionconcrete tower
Tower shapehexagonal tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patternwhite tower, red lantern
Tower height38.96 metres (127.8 ft)
Focal height42 metres (138 ft)
Intensity440,000 candela
Range22.5 nautical miles (41.7 km; 25.9 mi)[1]
CharacteristicFl (2+1) W 15s.
Admiralty numberD1196
NGA number1180
ARLHS numberFRA-173[2]
Heritagemonument historique classé 

The lighthouse was constructed in 1968 to a design by local architect Maurice Durand; unlike his other lighthouses, it was not meant to replace a tower which had been destroyed during World War II, but was instead built new as a landfall light. It was constructed in response to criticisms from local sailors, who said that due to development along the shoreline they could no longer see the harbor lights at the entrance to the town harbor.[4]

The lighthouse is a hexagonal concrete tower, with lantern and gallery, designed in the Art Deco style. It is 38.96 metres (127.8 ft) tall, and is white; the lantern is painted red. The light shows three white flashes in a two-one pattern every fifteen seconds.[4] It was automated at the time of its construction, and is controlled from Les Sables-d'Olonne; it is government property, and may not be visited. It is a listed monument since 2012.[5]

See also

References
  1. L'Armendèche lighthouse Ministère de l'Écologie, du Développement durable et de l'Énergie (in French)
  2. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of France: La Vendée". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  3. Pérocheau, J. (1998). Histoire de la Marine en Vendée: 2000 ans d'événements maritimes (in French). D'Orbestier Editions. p. 137. ISBN 978-2-84238-015-1. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  4. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of France: Loire-Atlantique". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  5. Base Mérimée: Phare de l'Armandèche, situé à la Chaume, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)


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