Korduan lighthouse ( fr. Phare de Cordouan ) - a lighthouse located 7 km from the coast on the Corduan plateau, at the mouth of the Gironde , formed by the confluence of the Garonne and Dordoni , overlooking the Atlantic Ocean .
| Corduan lighthouse | |
|---|---|
| fr. Phare de cordordan | |
 Corduan lighthouse at low tide. | |
| A country | |
| Estuary | Gironde , Verdon-sur-Mer |
| Architect | Louis de Foix (1535-1602) |
| Construction date | 1584-1611 |
| Beacon height | 68 m |
| Distance | 41 m |
| Auto | Yes |
| Acting | Yes |
The lighthouse illuminates and protects maritime traffic in two passages providing access to the mouth of the rivers: the Great Western Passage, marked at night, which runs along the northern coast from the coast of Kubra, and the narrower Southern Passage, which is not lit at night [2] . The lighthouse is 68 m high; it is the 10th tallest lighthouse in the world among traditional lighthouses [3] . A historical monument from 1862, the first among lighthouses.
Located in the Gironde department of the New Aquitaine region , between the cities of Royan , Vaux-sur-Mer and Pointe de Grave , and territorially belongs to the commune Verdon-sur-Mer .
The lighthouse was built in the years 1584-1611 [4] . It is the oldest active lighthouse in France. Sometimes called the “Versailles of the Sea”, “the lighthouse of kings” or the “king of lighthouses”, this is the first lighthouse classified as historical monuments by list.
It is managed by the inter-regional South Atlantic Maritime Administration, whose services in Verdon provide maritime signaling and passes. Since 2010, the site has been managed and guarded by the Joint Union for the Sustainable Development of the Gironde Estuary (SMIDDEST).
History
Small lighthouse towers have existed on the island since 880, but the permanent structure was built in the 14th century by the eldest son of King Edward III Edward III , the Black Prince , when the area of Guyenne was an English province. A tower was built with a height of 15 m with an upper platform where wood fire was fired, at which there was a monk-keeper. Passing ships paid 2 fare for the passage - the first known example of fees for a lighthouse. In addition to the tower on the islet, a small chapel was built. Towards the second half of the 16th century, the tower fell into decay, and the dangers of shipping began to threaten the wine trade in Bordeaux . This led to the construction of the Corduan lighthouse in its current form.
Notes
- ↑ base Mérimée - ministère de la Culture , 1978.
- ↑ Cartes marines 7425 et 7426 éditées par le SHOM
- ↑ Template: Cite rowlett
- ↑ Base Mérimée PA00083858 et Base Mérimée IA33001224 .
Links
- The invention that saved a million ships . BBC Date of treatment June 23, 2019.