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.^[2] 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
Location	Les Sables-d'Olonne, Les Sables-d'Olonne, France
Coordinates	46°29′23″N 01°48′17″W
Tower
Constructed	1968
Construction	concrete tower
Automated	1968
Height	38.96 metres (127.8 ft)
Shape	hexagonal tower with balcony and lantern
Markings	white tower, red lantern
Heritage	classified historical monument
Light
Focal height	42 metres (138 ft)
Intensity	440,000 candela
Range	22.5 nautical miles (41.7 km; 25.9 mi)[1]
Characteristic	Fl (2+1) W 15s.

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

• France portal
• Engineering portal

• List of lighthouses in France

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)