01 March 2021

Le phare de Chassiron (île d'Oléron)






The Chassiron lighthouse stands at the northern tip of the île d'Oléron. It was built starting in 1834, replacing a tower built on the site in 1685. It stands 50 meters (164 ft.) tall. That's 224 steps from the ground up to the top. Walt and I walked up there to take in the views. Cheryl kept her feet on the ground and walked around the tip of the island, accompanied by Callie on a leash.







For comparison, the towers of Notre-Dame cathedral top out at 69 meters... Still, the Chassiron light is visible from a distance of 28 nautical miles. Only one other lighthouse in France — le phare de Cordouan, 35 miles south — has been in operation longer than Chassiron.





The photos below show a couple of views from the top of the lighthouse. Nearby, there were big fields of artrichokes, and there was a produce stand where they were being sold. I don't remember if we bought and cooked some or not...




13 comments:

  1. Do we know why lighthouses are painted black and white?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It seems it is to differentiate them from other lighthouses.

      Delete
    2. That's what I've read, and it was important in the 19th century to give mariners a way to distinguish lighthouses visually, especially when the lighthouses were not very far from each other.

      Delete
    3. I think that's right. The lights along the Maine coast are mostly white with black caps, except for West Quoddy Head, on the border with New Brunswick, which is red and white. But the paint job was intended to make them visible, and distinguishable. Also they're set up as high as they can be in each of their locations, to be well above mean high water.
      The one at Cordouan is easily distinguished, because it's out in the channel of the Gironde.

      Delete
  2. It's nice to see the lay of the land from atop the light house. I've never seen a field of artichokes before. I know you enjoyed seeing that beautiful light house!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great views and great shots from the lighthouse! Although I don’t care for artichokes, they look gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great photo that artichoke field is! I don't know that I envisioned them that way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot of artichokes are grown along the coast from SF down towards Monterey in California. We cooked and ate artichokes frequently when we lived there. We do the same here in France.

      Delete
  5. Between Indio and Salton City, there were fileds of artichokes like that. Even in Indio, on 111, across the street from Stater Brothers. The man in the field sold his artichokes cheaper than Stater!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would love to get artichokes that way!

      Delete
  6. I, too, was enthralled with the fields of artichokes in your photo! I lived in Palm Desert and went to Indio every now and then and never saw the artichokes! I used to shop at Stater Bros. stores, too! Nice to know about the Phares and their colors! That makes sense.

    ReplyDelete

What's on your mind? Qu'avez-vous à me dire ?