Cordouan Lighthouse, Royan, Charente, France
© FRTimelapse/Getty Image
A beacon in the golden light. Cordouan Lighthouse, France
Built in 1611, the Cordouan Lighthouse is a maritime marvel. It stands on a base of massive limestone blocks near the mouth of France's Gironde estuary. Designed by engineer Louis de Foix and later remodeled in the 18th century, this lighthouse is known as the Versailles of the Seas because it is a palace, fort, and cathedral, all in one.
Currently, the Cordouan Lighthouse is the only guarded lighthouse on the coast of France and the oldest functional lighthouse in the country. A visit to this historic landmark will take you on a journey to a bygone era, concluding at the lighthouse's pinnacle where you can enjoy a commanding view of the surrounding sea and land.
Related Images
Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
Toronto city skyline seen from Lake Ontario, Canada
Crystal Lake in the Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
River Thames, London, England
Rock formations and sand dunes in the Sahara, Djanet, Algeria
Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
Montmartre and Sacre Cœur, Paris, France
Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Central Pacific Ocean
Today on Bing
Misool, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
May 10, 2024
Sattais Kacheri at Amer Fort in Jaipur, India
May 10, 2021
hanging bridge near Manali
May 10, 2019