The Whale Lighthouse
At the end of the island, you'll discover the Phare des Baleinesoverlooking the sea and the village of Saint-Clément-des-Baleines. The lighthouse owes its name to the fact that a relatively large number of whales have come ashore here in the past.
Le Phare des Baleines, like the end of the world on the Ile de Ré!
Your discovery of the Phare des Baleines could well begin with a visit to the Musée des Baleines, located in the former lighthouse keeper's school at the foot of the old tower. Here you'll learn that from 1949 until its closure in 1970, the Ecole des Baleines trained lighthouse keepers from mainland France, as well as those from overseas and the French colonies, in electricity and mechanics. Here, parents and children alike can enjoy a fascinating interpretation area, where Jamy Gourmaud, star of the TV show "C'est pas sorcier", tells them all about lighthouses and the maritime history of the Ile de Ré from the 17th century to the present day.
Visit to the Whale Lighthouse
Now that you've learned more about the lighthouses and beacons of the Charente channels, you can climb to the top of the famous 57-metre-high Baleines lighthouse! If you're afraid of heights, think twice before climbing the lighthouse. After climbing the 257 steps of this stone colossus, a mixture of granite and limestone, you'll find yourself on the highest point of theÎle-de-Ré! The view of the Ile de Ré, the ocean and the coast is nothing short of spectacular! On a clear day, you can make out the island of Oléron, while at low tide you can see the fish locks typical of Île-de-Ré.
Once you've climbed down and recovered, you can discover the "Tour des Baleines", just a few metres from the current lighthouse. It's an ancient 3-storey, 29-meter-high ashlar tower, built in 1682 at the express request of Colbert and under the watchful eye of Vauban, at the same time as the fortifications of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.
With its dungeon-like appearance and crenellated top, this first tower was used to divert ships away from the dangerous Baleines rocks, but also to reinforce the defense of Rochefort's military Arsenal. Having become obsolete over time, the building was finally retired in 1854 with the construction of the new, much more modern lighthouse. It was classified as a historical monument in 1904.
It's impossible to talk about the Phare des Baleines without mentioning the Conche des Baleines beach, one of the most beautiful, wild and authentic beaches on the Ile de Ré! Just 100 meters from the campsite, this immense sandy beach, bordered by the Lizay forest, starts at the Phare des Baleines and runs all the way to the village of Les Portes-en-Ré. After visiting the lighthouse, you're sure to want to spread out your towel or take a refreshing dip in the water!
The Baleines lighthouse is open to the public every day of the year.
Address: 155 route du Phare, 17590 St-Clément des Baleines
Tel: 05 46 29 18 23
See more about the Baleines lighthouse.