Name and Location

Feu de Grosse Terre is an active coastal light located in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Pays de la Loire, France. The lighthouse marks a rocky shoal off the Pointe de la Grosse Terre, on the Vendée coast of western France.

Location

The lighthouse can be found at 195 Av. de la Corniche, 85270 Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Pays de la Loire, France. The coordinates are 46°41′32″ N, 1°57′56″ W (decimal 46.692397 N, –1.9655569 E). A map link is available on OpenStreetMap.

Construction and History

The exact date of construction for Feu de Grosse Terre is unknown, but it is believed to have been built in the early 20th century based on cadastre updates (2010) and NGA references. The lighthouse has no official monument historique classification identified.

Architecture and Materials

The tower type is likely a cylindrical masonry or concrete tower rising from a one-storey keeper’s house, which is no longer occupied. The height of the focal plane is approximately 25 meters above ground level. The materials used are presumed to be reinforced concrete or rendered brick, typical of regional minor lights.

Light and Navigation

Feu de Grosse Terre exhibits sectorized group-flash characteristics to warn of nearby shoals and provide a bearing for safe passage. The light has a focal height of 25 meters above mean sea level and a range of 18 nautical miles (white sector) and 15 nautical miles (red sectors). The characteristic is a group-flash pattern with a 12-second cycle, featuring four flashes in quick succession.

Accessibility and Visiting

The tower is closed to the public, but the exterior can be viewed from Avenue de la Corniche. Visitors can access the lighthouse by car or bicycle along D 6A coastal road at 195 Av. de la Corniche. Small parking areas nearby serve beachgoers and walkers.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surroundings offer a typical Atlantic coast landscape, featuring sandy beaches, low dunes, maritime pines, and salt-marsh creeks. Visitors can enjoy panoramic sea vistas toward Île d’Yeu and the Pointe du Payré from coastal walking paths.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Locals affectionately refer to the lighthouse as “Le petit phare de Grosse Terre.” Some sailors claim that on a clear night, they have seen the four-flash white sector aligned with the harbour entrance—a traditional "secret" inbound cue.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is automated and has no resident keepers. The managing authority is Service des Phares et Balises (Ministère de la Mer / Affaires maritimes). There are no radar or AIS installations on site.

Further Information

For further reading, consult the US NGA Pub. 113 (2010), Cadastre DGI-FR, Service du Cadastre (2010), and OpenStreetMap feature: way/86653382.