Chassiron Lighthouse Oléron

A Historic Beacon of the Atlantic Coast

Standing at the northern point of Île d'Oléron, the Chassiron Lighthouse reaches 46 metres into the sky. First lit in the seventeenth century and rebuilt in the 1830s, it has long guided vessels toward the estuary of the Charente and the naval port of Rochefort.

The Black-and-White Silhouette

Originally painted entirely white, the tower gained its striking black bands in 1926 to sharpen its visibility and set it apart from the nearby Phare des Baleines. The camera captures this iconic striped landmark against the Pertuis d'Antioche and the rocky reefs that ring the island.

A Panoramic Vantage

From its lofty position, the site commands a sweeping outlook over the northern half of Oléron, the ocean, and — on the horizon — the Île d'Aix, the Île de Ré and the legendary Fort Boyard.