Phare de la Pointe des Dames

Phare de la Pointe des Dames is a small lighthouse in Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, standing at the edge of the Bois de la Chaise woodland in the northeastern part of Noirmoutier island, Vendée. Its square tower, just under 19 metres tall, watches over the entrance to the Bay of Bourgneuf at night, warning ships away from the rocky reefs scattered along this stretch of coast.

Where did the lighthouse come from?

The idea took shape in 1860, when the Vendée general council decided the area needed better night signalling — the reefs in the bay posed a genuine hazard to shipping. The chosen site sat on a rise above the Plage des Dames beach, which lent the lighthouse its name. Construction ran from 1865 to 1867 and cost 26,000 francs, a substantial sum for the period. The result was a square tower showing a fixed light with white and red sectors, alongside a keeper's house built at the same time.

In 1910 the tower was painted white, giving it the recognisable look it still has today. For most of the 20th century a resident keeper ran the lighthouse; full automation arrived only in 2002, and it now operates remotely without permanent staff on site. Because of its historical value, the whole complex — tower and outbuildings together — was listed as a historic monument on 29 November 2011.

What will you see on site?

The lighthouse follows the classic French "house-lighthouse" (maison-phare) layout: the tower itself plus an adjoining residence, outbuildings, and a well, all grouped together. One curious detail is that the grounds also hold a menhir, a prehistoric standing stone that adds a much older layer of history to a site otherwise defined by its 19th-century tower.

The setting is framed by the greenery of Bois de la Chaise, one of the island's most cherished corners, where pines and oaks shade footpaths running right along the coast. Although technically still staffed for maintenance, the lighthouse is not open for visits inside. That doesn't take away from the experience, though — the white tower set against sky and sea is one of the signature views of this part of Noirmoutier.

How to get there and when to visit?

Pointe des Dames is an easy walk or bike ride from the centre of Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, making it one of the more popular routes for anyone exploring the island. The spot is especially appealing at sunset, when the light plays beautifully off the white tower and the waters of the bay.

Spring and summer are the best seasons for a visit, when the weather favours longer walks through the woods and along the low cliffs, though the lighthouse makes an impression at any time of year. It's worth pairing the visit with a stop at the nearby Plage des Dames and a stroll through the whole of Bois de la Chaise, where elegant villas from the turn of the 20th century sit among the trees.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the lighthouse? No, the interior is not open to visitors — the site still receives some technical upkeep, but there is no public access inside.

Where does the lighthouse's name come from? It's named after the adjacent Plage des Dames beach, above which the lighthouse was built in the second half of the 19th century.

What is the menhir next to the lighthouse? It's a prehistoric standing stone located on the lighthouse grounds, a remnant of a much older history at the site, predating the tower itself by millennia.

When was the lighthouse automated? Full automation and remote operation arrived in 2002, ending the era of a permanent on-site keeper.