The port of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne is located in the northern part of the town, at the bottom of a small natural cove south of the tip of Vallières materialized by the dyke and the rocky bank of La Béchade. With 74 rings, it cannot accommodate vessels over seven meters. Boats can access it between three hours before high tide and three hours after high tide. The port is dominated by the silhouette of the Vallières lighthouse, which secures its entrance and which is just opposite that of Verdon-sur-Mer, on the Pointe de la Grave, on the other side of the estuary.
Its construction spanned from 1898 to 1902. It is distinguished by its square tower shape in limestone, with a granite base, . It has 144 steps and is 36 meters high, dominated by a copper cupola. It is made up of 4 floors – 29 meters in all, on which a 7-meter lantern is placed.
Before him, an 8-meter beacon tower had been built in 1860 to guide ships to the port. Its height proved to be too low to be sufficient to secure navigation in the estuary. The lighthouse was built near this first building, of which nothing remains because it was destroyed during the Second World War. The lighthouse was also damaged during the liberation of Royan (there are traces of shells on the walls of the lighthouse) but it was restored after the war. Its electrification dates from 1947. In 1969, its usefulness was called into question by changes in the rules of navigation on the estuary. It is then decommissioned.
Listed as historical monuments since 2012
The visit of the Vallières lighthouse, in the town of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, is possible every day from mid-June to mid-September, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. then from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. A climb of more than 140 steps promises you a breathtaking view of the magnificent Gironde estuary. At the reception desk, a drawing competition is organized every year. The children's works are exhibited throughout the season in a room in the lighthouse. After the visit, it is possible to stroll in the gardens of the estuary and enjoy the exceptional wild setting of the cliff of Vallières