Trompeloup Lighthouse
Location & Light Range
About Trompeloup Lighthouse
Also known as: Trompeloup (feu antérieur)
Constructed in 1901, the Trompeloup lighthouse is a cylindrical stone tower standing 13 meters tall. It originally featured a gallery and incorporated keeper's quarters. The tower's upper half was painted red and the lower half white, though these colors have faded significantly. Positioned in the Gironde estuary, it served as the front light for a northbound range, with the Île de Patiras lighthouse acting as the rear light. This range guided southbound vessels through the estuary. The lighthouse has been inactive since 1992, with its lantern removed after changes to the shipping channel rendered the range obsolete. The site is accessible to the public, but the tower remains closed.
Why it matters: The Trompeloup lighthouse was important for directing upstream traffic through the Gironde estuary's shifting channels. Its integrated keeper's quarters highlight a pragmatic design for riverine navigation.
Tower & Structure
- Tower Height
- 13m
- Tower Shape
- cylindrical
- Tower Color
- Upper half painted red, lower half white; colors have faded considerably
- Material
- stone
Structure: round stone tower with gallery, incorporating keeper's quarters
Location
- Country
- 🇫🇷France
- Sea Region
- Middle of the Gironde about 3 km southeast of Saint-Estèphe and 2650 m north of the Île de Patiras lighthouse; front light of an upstream (southbound) range
- Latitude
- 45.2273°
- Longitude
- -0.7281°
References & Identifiers
- Nearest Port
- Pauillac(0.8 km)
- ARLHS No.
- FRA-745
- Wikidata
- Q80023292 →
Construction & History
- Year Built
- 1901
Significant events: Inactive since 1992, lantern removed, range deactivated after channel change made it useless
Visiting
- Open to public
- Site open, tower closed
Nearby Vessels
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