Le Phare des Baleines

A majestic guardian of Île de Ré, the Phare des Baleines has offered breathtaking views of the ocean and the island's landscapes for nearly two centuries.

Location and characteristics

The Phare des Baleines lighthouse (46° 14.712° N 01 33.588 W), located in Saint Clément des Baleines on the Île de Ré in the Atlantic, is 60 meters high and has 257 steps. It has a diameter of 18 meters.

Construction began in 1849 and it was lit in 1854. Its light has a range of 27 miles, or approximately 50 kilometers, thanks to its two lenses.

It owes its name to the many whales that have washed up on this side of the island. The last one dates back to 1922.

What are lighthouses used for?

Lighthouses have stood along coastlines for centuries to guide ships. They help boats navigate and avoid dangers such as rocks, reefs, and coastlines. Their light signals are designed to be visible from far away, even at night or in bad weather. Their appearance also helps shape coastlines. They are therefore key monuments in maritime life, serving as real beacons of guidance for sailors. 

There are three types of lighthouses. First, there are coastal lighthouses, located near the coast and visible from afar. then there are harbor lighthouses, which are located at the entrances to ports; and finally, there are offshore lighthouses, which are built on rocks or sandbanks to signal danger. 

The very first well-known lighthouse was the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt, dating from the 3rd century BC. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

How a lighthouse works

First of all, they emit light. In the past, they used candles, whale oil, coal, and petroleum. Today, they use electric bulbs or LEDs. 

Next, they are equipped with a Fresnel lens. This lens is a kind of large magnifying glass composed of concentric rings that capture light in the same place and make it visible for several dozen kilometers.

Finally, each lighthouse has a different light pattern (characteristic of the lighthouse). Each lighthouse flashes differently so that sailors can identify it and know where they are.

History of the Phare des Baleines

Previously, there was the Vauban tower, built by the architect of the same name in 1682. 

But in the mid-19th century, thanks to technological advances, a man named Augustin Fresnel developed a lens that increased the lighting efficiency of many lighthouses. However, the lighthouse was not high enough to achieve optimal range, so it needed to be enlarged. This led to the idea of building the 57-meter-high Phare des Baleines lighthouse. 

The Phare des Baleines lighthouse was built as part of the coastal beaconing program and thanks to technological advances. This program was implemented by the Lighthouses and Beacons Service. It was a direct response to the desired increase in maritime traffic. 

This time, architect Léonce Reynaud took charge of the construction. Its spiral staircase is made of Kersanton granite. At the foot of the lighthouse was a building that served as a living space for the lighthouse keeper and his family, as well as a storage area for fuel.

The lighthouse keeper was responsible for ensuring that the light remained lit at all times, as well as cleaning the lens and maintaining the tower.

Previously, the old tower was lit with whale oil, then coal from 1736 onwards, before the use of kerosene. Electrification began in 1904, illustrating the successive energy transitions.

This lighthouse was a necessity because, despite the presence of the Vauban tower, there were no fewer than 125 shipwrecks and 470 sailors lost in this area between 1793 and 1838.

Since June 22, 1904, the old lighthouse has been listed as a Historic Monument, and the new one since 2011. 

The lighthouse is still in operation and has been automated since 2001 from the La Palice Lighthouse and Beacon Center in La Rochelle.

The Baleines Estate Park

This park was created in 1861 on land acquired by the state to build the new lighthouse. It covers an area of 2 hectares and encompasses all the buildings on the estate. Part of the park can be privatized and hosts public and private events throughout the year.

The Baleines Lighthouse, a tourist attraction

In 2001, the company Patrimoine Océan was awarded the contract to develop the complex for tourism. Then, between 2006 and 2007, the old massive tower dating from 1682 was restored. A museum was added to the tower. This museum presents the exhibition “Lighthouses are not rocket science” all year round. 

Each year, the complex (lighthouse, museum, park) is visited by 160,000 people on self-guided or guided tours.

Today, the museum offers visitors the opportunity to trace the history of the lighthouse and lighthouses in general in order to better understand their usefulness, exhibiting numerous period objects to provide a better understanding of maritime history. Its tower, open to the public, offers a magnificent panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Île de Ré.