Hourtin lighthouse

Hourtin lighthouse stands in the pine forest above Lake Hourtin-Carcans, a short drive from the beaches of France's Côte d'Argent (Silver Coast) in Gironde. What makes the site unusual is that it is not one lighthouse but two — a rare case in France of twin towers built side by side on a single dune.

How do you get to the Hourtin lighthouse?

The lighthouse sits inland, in the pine forest typical of the Landes region, within the commune of Hourtin. The easiest approach is by car, either from the town centre or from the coastal resort of Hourtin-Plage, both routes running through forest tracks among the dunes. Because the site lies within the long belt of woodland that runs along the entire Silver Coast, it is worth navigating with a map or GPS, as signage in the forest can be minimal. Walkers and cyclists can also reach the towers on paths connecting Hourtin with neighbouring towns along the Atlantic shoreline.

What will you see there?

The defining feature of Hourtin is that there are two towers rather than one. Both are square in plan, roughly 27 metres tall, and built of exposed, unrendered brick set on stone foundations. Because they stand on a high dune, their light reached far beyond what the tower height alone would suggest: the focal plane of the working lighthouse sits at around 62.85 metres above sea level, even though the focal height measured from the base of the tower is only 23.6 metres.

The reason two towers were built instead of one is a small piece of maritime-navigation history. In the 19th century, the rule along this coast was that two consecutive lighthouses could not show the same type of light, so that sailors could tell them apart. The lighthouse at Cap Ferret showed a fixed light, and the one at Cordouan showed an eclipsing light. For Hourtin, positioned between the two, the only option left was to double the signal — two towers lit together, producing a distinctive pattern that ships could recognise from the sea.

The lighthouses were built in 1860, and the lights were lit for the first time in 1863, closing a stretch of dark coastline between the Pointe de Grave and Cap Ferret lighthouses where no signal had previously been visible. The southern tower was extinguished in 1894, and from that point the northern tower alone carried the navigational function. It was automated in 1981 and remains an active aid to navigation today. The northern lighthouse, together with the former keepers' houses, has been listed as a French historic monument since 6 November 2009.

The site now draws visitors looking for a quiet forest walk, admirers of 19th-century industrial architecture, and anyone curious about the history of Atlantic shipping lanes. The pairing of two nearly identical brick towers rising above the pines is an unusual sight rarely found at other lighthouses on the French coast.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are the most comfortable seasons, with long days and dry forest paths. In summer the area also works well as a base for visitors using the beaches at Hourtin-Plage and Lake Hourtin-Carcans, making it easy to combine a look at the lighthouse with time by the water. Autumn and winter bring the quiet and mist typical of the Landes forest, which some travellers find just as appealing, though access to the towers' interior can be more limited outside the warmer months.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one lighthouse in Hourtin or two? There are two nearly identical towers standing close together — a 19th-century solution designed to make the Hourtin signal distinguishable from the neighbouring lighthouses at Cap Ferret and Cordouan.

Is the lighthouse still in operation? Yes, the northern tower is active and was automated in 1981. The southern tower was extinguished back in 1894 and no longer serves a navigational purpose.

How tall are the towers? Each tower stands about 27 metres tall, and the working lighthouse's focal plane reaches roughly 62.85 metres above sea level thanks to its position on a high dune.

Is the lighthouse a protected monument? Yes, the northern tower and its adjoining keepers' houses have been listed as a French historic monument since 6 November 2009.