Cordouan Lighthouse, Royan, Charente, France
© FRTimelapse/Getty Image
A beacon in the golden light. Cordouan Lighthouse, France
Built in 1611, the Cordouan Lighthouse is a maritime marvel. It stands on a base of massive limestone blocks near the mouth of France’s Gironde estuary. Designed by engineer Louis de Foix and later remodelled in the 18th century, this lighthouse is known as the Versailles of the Seas because it is a palace, fort, and cathedral, all in one.
Currently, the Cordouan Lighthouse is the only guarded lighthouse on the coast of France and the oldest functional lighthouse in the country. A visit to this historic landmark will take you on a journey to a bygone era, concluding at the lighthouse’s pinnacle where you can enjoy a commanding view of the surrounding sea and land.
Related Images
The Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London, England for her 150th anniversary
Toronto sign in Nathan Phillips Square by the City Hall, Toronto
Boats massing for the Barcolana Regatta in the Gulf of Trieste, Italy
Aerial view of central Oxford, England
Remains of Mulberry Harbour from the D-Day invasion, Arromanches les Bains, Normandy, France
Sailors begin their journey from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Michigan during the Race to Mackinac
The shoreline of Cahuita National Park, in Costa Rica
Boats resting between the Granville Bridge and the Burrard Bridge in False Creek, Vancouver
Bing Today Images
A pink fringed tulip in Ottawa
May 10, 2021
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park in Nevada
May 10, 2017
Wreckage of the SS Thistlegorm in the Red Sea
May 10, 2016
