Arriving from Les Sables d'Olonne, one sees La Lanterne from afar (centre of photo below),
This was the first lighthouse on the French Atlantic coast, constructed in the XVth century, it was converted to a prison in the XVIIth century. The graffiti on the walls inside show that many British sailors were held captive here by the French in the subsequent 200-300 years. It lies at the end of the rampart between it and the Tour de la Chaine, the tower which guarded the entrance to the harbour with the Tour St. Nicholas on the far side. Entering the harbour by boat between these last two towers is spectacular.
Berthed in the Vieux Port for the first night right in the centre of this fascinating old town, an important port since medieval times, gave us the opportunity to explore. The colonnades and courtyards have been sympathetically melded into modern life. Evidence of past glories are seen carved into the walls in various places.
Unfortunately the weather was not very fine for our climb up the 38m tower of La Lanterne. Nevertheless the view was magnificent, out to sea and over the town.
For the second and third nights we moved into the locked basin and were berthed just beneath the green-topped white tower seen in the distance in the photo below - this light forms the rear of two leading lights into the port and flashes white 24 hrs a day. It provided a suitable landmark to our location for our next visiting crew, Penny and Duncan, who joined us last evening, 22nd May. Now we are preparing for the off to St. Martin on the Ile de Ré, despite a not-very-encouraging forecast. Expecting rain and strong winds so just as well it is only a 15 mile passage!
Well done Mum! A real surfeit of blogs these past few days!
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