Maritime traffic near the coast of the Île d'Oléron became significant in the 17th century, and it was necessary to increase the safety and marking of the strait.
The first 33-meter tower, completed in 1685, provided only a meager and rather unpredictable light. The new Chassiron lighthouse was commissioned in December 1836.
Its 46-meter-high black and white tower can be seen up to 35 km by day, and its light can be seen 52 km on a clear night. A beautiful staircase of 224 steps leads to the lantern, lit by incandescent acetylene light. Its light flashes 10 times every 10 seconds, has a power of 360,000 decimal candles, and an average range of 28 miles. The lighthouse reaches a height of 43 meters above ground level and 50 meters above sea level.
First painted white, in 1926, the three 6-meter-high black bands that characterize it today were added to make it more visible during the day in the fog and to differentiate it from its neighbor on the Île de Ré, the Baleines lighthouse.
Since 1998, there has been no keeper. It is maintained by the Lighthouse and Beacon Office.
The Chassiron site was completely rehabilitated in 2007. The gardens were redesigned, and a museum was created on the first floor of the lighthouse.
Open year-round, 7 days a week.
The Chassiron lighthouse is located in the commune of Saint-Denis-d'Oléron, which has been managing its tourist attractions since 1999 with the Charente-Maritime Department. The lighthouse rotunda houses a museum themed "the people of the coast between land and sea."
Discover the lives of the Oléron residents (farmers and fishermen) through authentic objects, explanatory models, and films. The tour lasts approximately 20 minutes.
From the top of the lighthouse, you can see the island of Oléron, the distant island of Ré, the continental coast (La Rochelle, Vendée), and the ocean. At low tide, the rocky foreshore creates a landscape with curvaceous graphics, complemented by the traditional horseshoe-shaped fish locks, some of which are still maintained on this site.