On the edge of the estuary, the Richard lighthouse is well worth a visit! This haven of peace is ideal for a stroll and a picnic break. The lighthouse is worth a visit, not to mention the exceptional view from the top. The Richard lighthouse is located on the Médoc shore of the estuary at Jau-Dignac and Loirac.
Richard’s Lighthouse, a beacon on the estuary.
Focus on a river lighthouse
The Médoc peninsula is a region of water. There are many lighthouses along the banks of the estuary. Before buoys replaced them, they were used to mark river navigation. The Richard lighthouse is no longer in operation, but a dynamic association has given it a new lease of life. Richard’s lighthouse is now a convivial place.
History
Gambas production is relatively new to the Médoc. The former salt marshes of Verdon, Talais and St Vivien de Médoc have been given a new lease of life.
Richard’s lighthouse was built in 1843 to replace a tree felled by a storm, which served as a landmark for navigators. It soon became a popular meeting place and festivity spot for the commune’s inhabitants.
The lighthouse, too small, was replaced in 1870 by a metal tower erected next door.
In 1953, the beaconing of the estuary caused the lighthouse to be extinguished.
Richard’s lighthouse was abandoned, and a private owner bought it, but did not maintain it. The municipality finally bought the lighthouse in 1982, but had to carry out extensive work to repair it. The work was carried out with the support of an association.
At the Richard lighthouse, you can visit :
- The lighthouse, of course, with its panoramic view of the Médoc and Charente coasts
- The orientation table overlooking the estuary
- Oyster farming and fishing museum
- A museum of lighthouses and beacons
- A pilot boat (a launch that takes pilots to vessels entering or leaving the navigation channel)
- A fishing hut
- The 1/10° scale model of the metal tower
A place for leisure
But the lighthouse isn’t just a place for culture.
You can picnic, go for a walk or go fishing. Festivities take place at the foot of the lighthouse, with organized meals or flea markets… The lighthouse takes on the air of 19th-century festivities. The Richard port festival, the lighthouse festival and the night of the carrelets take place every summer in August.
You can eat at the guinguette du Phare , open all day in season, offering simple, local cuisine. To book, call 05 56 67 15 21.
The area around the lighthouse is ideal for walking, horse-riding and cycling. There’s a children’s playground and tables, so why not let your mind wander in this friendly, typical Médoc spot?
The Richard lighthouse is less than 20kms fromEuronat, an opportunity to move from the coast to the estuary, the two facets of our peninsula.
