Pointe du Grouin du Cou Lighthouse
The Pointe du Grouin du Cou Lighthouse (sometimes called the La Tranche-sur-Mer Lighthouse) is a French lighthouse, located on the eponymous point in the southern part of the Vendée department; it guards the entrance to the Pertuis Breton on the Île de Ré, on the west side of La Tranche-sur-Mer. The lighthouse, constructed in 1953 to a design by Maurice Durand, replaces an earlier tower that was destroyed by retreating German troops during World War II.[3]
 The lighthouse in 2007 | |
  Pointe du Grouin du Cou Lighthouse France | |
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| Location | Pointe du Grouin du Cou Bay of Biscay France |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 46°20′40″N 1°27′49″W |
| Year first constructed | 1831 (first) 1867 (second) |
| Year first lit | 1953 (current) |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Tower shape | octagonal tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, black lantern |
| Tower height | 16.33 metres (53.6 ft) (current) 9 metres (30 ft) (first) 14 metres (46 ft) (second) |
| Focal height | 30 metres (98 ft) (current) 18 metres (59 ft) (first) 28 metres (92 ft) (second)[1] |
| Light source | Halogen lamp |
| Characteristic | Fl WRG 5s (depending on direction) |
| Admiralty number | D1214 |
| NGA number | 1240 |
| ARLHS number | FRA-311[2] |
| Heritage | bien recensé dans l'inventaire général du patrimoine culturel  |
Description
The lighthouse at Pointe du Grouin du Cou is a 52-foot-tall (16 m) Art Deco tower built in concrete; it is octagonal, and has a lantern and gallery as well. The tower is white, while the lantern is painted black. Its focal plane is 95 feet (29 m) above sea level, and it shows a flash of light every five seconds; depending on the direction, the light shown is either white, red, or green.[3] The signal is currently halogen powered.[4]
History
The first lighthouse on the site was lit on 1 July 1831; it was a small cylindrical tourelle encased in masonry, and showed a fixed white light. A short tower, it stood only 27 feet (8.2 m) tall, and was intended to warn ships' captains off of the treacherous limestone rocks that could be found in the area. A taller light, 46 feet (14 m) tall, was installed in May 1867, and also showed a fixed white light. This was changed in 1893 to a light which flashed every five seconds, and which showed white and red sectors. In 1906 the signal was converted to a mercury-vapor lamp,[5] and in 1931 it received a supplementary green sector.[6] The lighthouse was powered by various means at various points in its career, notably vegetable oil (1831), mineral oil (around 1875), gas (1906) and finally electricity (1953).[5]
The lighthouse at the point was completely demolished on the night of 24 July 1944 by German soldiers. A temporary wooden pylon was erected soon after, being lit on 10 October of the following year;[5] the old lighthouse was not permanently replaced, however, until 1953. On 25 April of that year the new tower showed its light, an electric signal,[5] for the first time; it was tended by a keeper until 1985, when it was automated.[6] Today the lighthouse is controlled automatically from Les Sables-d'Olonne; its property is still owned by the government, and is off-limits to visitors.[4]
References
- Base Mérimée: Phare du Grouin du Cou, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
- Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of France: La Vendée". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of France: Loire-Atlantique". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- "Phare du Grouin du Cou". Archived from the original on 28 February 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- Base Mérimée: Phare du Grouin du Cou, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
- "groin-du-cou". Archived from the original on 28 March 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
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