View from the top....

.... of le Phare de Cordouan at the mouth of the Gironde Estuary.


This impressive four century old lighthouse has a fascinating history. Its construction is quite beautiful and ornate.
It is quite unique and inside there is the Kings apartment, and The Chapel Royal! It is also the only lighthouse in France which is still permanently manned.

To the bottom of the photo is our amphibious landing craft which brought us to the foot of the lighthouse from the boat. 
When we left an hour or so later, the tide had gone right out. Todays third extra shows the lighthouse viewed from the sandbanks.

There are some photos of the elegant interior on the lighthouse website here.