- Shelter
- NW
- Seabed
- sand
- Anchoring
- Allowed
Anchorage off the Cordouan lighthouse, at the mouth of the Gironde estuary in New Aquitaine. Sand bottom, shelter from NW only.
- Beach
Guide
Approach and anchoring
Open to the Atlantic swell and cross seas of the Gironde bar. Approach at slack water or early flood, by day only. Drop on sand to the lee of the lighthouse plateau. Port Bloc 3,9 NM to the SE, Port Médoc 4,3 NM to the SE.
Practical
No services. Landing by dinghy on the sandbank around the lighthouse, tide-dependent. Guided visits of the lighthouse run in summer from Royan and Le Verdon.
Ashore
Cordouan lighthouse is climbable during guided tours, 301 steps to the lantern. The royal apartment, chapel and king's chamber are visited on the way up.
History
Cordouan was begun in 1584 by Louis de Foix on a plateau off the Gironde estuary and completed in 1611. The upper section was raised by Joseph Teulère in 1788 to reach its current 68 m. The lighthouse was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2021.
Key facts
- Type
- Anchorage
- Coordinates
- 45.59729, -1.14466 (45°35.84'N 1°8.68'W)
- Country
- France
- Shelter
- Sheltered from north-west winds
- Seabed
- sand
- Anchoring
- Allowed
- Services
- Beach
- Boaters' rating
- 3.1/5
- Updated
- July 7, 2026
Getting there
Phare de Cordouan lies at 45°35.84'N 1°8.68'W, that is 45.59729, -1.14466 in decimal degrees.
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Write a reviewFrequently asked questions
Which winds is Phare de Cordouan sheltered from?
Phare de Cordouan is sheltered from north-west winds.
Can you anchor at Phare de Cordouan?
Yes, anchoring is allowed at Phare de Cordouan.
How do boaters rate Phare de Cordouan?
Phare de Cordouan is rated 3.1/5 by boaters on BoatMap.
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