An unmissable and emblematic site of Oléron, the Chassiron lighthouse has Saint-Denis-d'Oleron offers an impressive view of the ocean, the north of the island, La Rochelle And the island of re. No doubt you will make a stop there during your stay in camping in Oléron ! So, here are 5 things you might not have known about the Chassiron lighthouse !
It is one of the oldest lighthouses in France.
With the Cordouan lighthouse in the estuary of the Gironde and the Baleines lighthouse on the island of re, the Chassiron lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in France still in operation!
The first fire tower, built by Colbert in 1685, was replaced by the current lighthouse in 1836, under the direction of engineer Lescure Bellerive. From the moment it was inaugurated, the new 46-meter-high lighthouse was equipped with the latest lighting technology. It was even one of the first lighthouses to be equipped with Fresnel lenses!
There was a time when the Chassiron lighthouse was all white
Emblem of the island, the Chassiron lighthouse owes its originality to its black and white stripes. But it was not always like this! Originally all white, the Chassiron lighthouse was repainted in 1926 with three six-meter black bands. Not out of vanity, but to make it more visible during the day and to differentiate it from its neighbor the island of re, the Whales lighthouse.
The Chassiron point and the Antioch rock have caused hundreds of shipwrecks
The place of construction of the Chassiron lighthouse was not chosen at random. For sailors, the tip of Chassiron, nicknamed "the end of the world", was for a long time one of the most perilous places on the Saintonge coast.
Between the end of the 17th century and the 20th century, maritime annals recount hundreds of shipwrecks. Among the shipwrecks that have marked history and memory, the Mavis, a British steamer, on November 24, 1880; the American steamer Présidente Viera, on the night of November 18 to 19, 1916; the Port Calédonia, a Finnish four-masted ship, 90 meters long, on December 2, 1924 on the formidable rock of Antioch…
The lighthouse houses a museum and a show trail
On the first floor of the lighthouse, the rotunda houses a small museum. Let yourself be carried away by the story of a young man castaway at Pointe de Chassiron and discover a show trail entitled "The People of the Coast, between land and sea". Its history is illustrated by sound testimonies, period objects, models and videos. A very interesting moment, as much for children as for parents!
The Foulées de Chassiron, a race at the foot of the lighthouse, between cliffs, vineyards and marshes
Every year, at the beginning of August, the Chassiron Races welcome hundreds of athletes for a 12-kilometer race with the lighthouse of Chassiron ! The race starts at the northern tip of the island, at the foot of the iconic Chassiron lighthouse, runs along the cliffs, winds through vineyards and marshes before ending on the beach.
photo © Flotonson