Pointe de Grave Lighthouse

Also known as: Pointe de Grave (feu postérieur)

The Pointe de Grave lighthouse is a 25-meter-high, square cylindrical masonry tower topped with a lantern and gallery, originating from a 1-story keeper's house. Its construction in 1860 followed earlier lights lost to the sea; the current lighthouse was set further inland. The tower displays white walls with dark gray trim. Its light characteristic is Oc W R G 4s, producing a flash every 4 seconds in white, red, or green. The light has a geographic range of 14.5 nautical miles. The structure, which now includes a museum in the keeper's house, is accessible to the public. Management is overseen by the Association des phares de Cordouan et de Grave.

Why it matters: This lighthouse marks the entrance to the Gironde estuary, providing a reference point for vessels entering or departing the waterway. Its existence demonstrates the successful effort to establish a consistent navigation aid at a location where earlier lights were lost due to coastal changes.