Although lighthouses are not operated in the ways of our forefathers, they nevertheless still have the capacity to make us dream and to open up new horizons. Normandy has some very fine specimens and we invite you – where possible – to spiral your way up inside and take in some fantastic views.
Gatteville lighthouse
This lighthouse is perched ashore just over a mile from the enchanting harbour of Barfleur, one of ‘the Most Beautiful Villages of France‘. At over 75 metres the Gatteville lighthouse is the second tallest lighthouse in Europe. It has a step for each day of the year – 365 – and a window for each week of the year – 52. This great “candlestick in stone” required 11,000 blocks of granite to erect it. There is a stunning 360° view over the Val de Saire, the name given to the hedgerow country or bocage of the Nord-Cotentin, and to the east you take in the Calvados coastline in the distance.
Ouistreham lighthouse
A tad more modest with its 171 steps, the Ouistreham lighthouse is also a fine example of maritime architecture, with its brash white and red colours. It has a splendid view over Ouistreham Riva-Bella and the coast on either side. Camille exclaimed “you get this just amazing view over the Côte de Nacre and la Pointe du Siège”. You can visit with or without a commentary, as you wish.
Fatouville Grestain lighthouse
The Fatouville lighthouse offers a stunning view over the Marais Vernier, the Seine estuary and the Normandy Bridge spanning it. Anne and Jean-François Durand, the happy owners of this unique property, will never tire telling you about this magical spot which has remained in the hands of the same family over generations. If you fall in love with the place, and climbing the 192 steps to the top doesn’t wear you out, you can always spend the night there!
Goury lighthouse
Should you find yourself right on the other side of the Cotentin, on the Cap de la Hague, you really should not miss the tiny harbour of Goury and its lighthouse. The pointe de la Hague has running along under it the Raz Blanchard one of the strongest tidal currents you could encounter anywhere in the world. It gives rise to some very choppy seas during winter storms. A short distance away you can go out to the Nez de Jobourg, the second most visited site in the Manche after the Mont-Saint-Michel.
Barfleur lighthouse
It’s nothing like its neighbour, the (very big) Gatteville lighthouse. But Barfleur’s little white lighthouse is full of charm too. Take a walk around the base of this square white tower, built in the 1840s, also known as the ‘front light’, and you’ll have a great view of the village and Barfleur harbour.
Le Tréport lighthouse
Boats arriving at Le Tréport are greeted by a fifteen-metre-high automated cylindrical green and white lighthouse. Out and about in Le Tréport? Take a stroll along the pier, watch the boats come and go on the sea and capture the scenes on film.
Trouville-sur-Mer lighthouse
At the end of the pier at Trouville-sur-Mer, which marks the entrance to the port, you’ll find two brothers: the red lighthouse and the green lighthouse. Their metal structure is octagonal and they stand 11 metres above sea level.
The Cap de Carteret lighthouse
Fifty-eight steps lead up to the Carteret lighthouse in La Manche. It offers superb views of the Channel Islands and the Ecrehou Archipelago, as well as the Barneville Dunes. The Carteret lighthouse was built in 1839. It still operates automatically and is open to visitors. The lighthouse museum is housed in the former keeper’s quarters.
Thematics