Phare des Baleines
A lighthouse 57 metres tall at the western tip of Île de Ré. Climb 257 steps for a 360° view of the Atlantic, salt marshes and pine forests.
The Phare des Baleines was built in 1854 and takes its name from the whales that once stranded on the nearby beach. From the top you can see the western coastline of Île de Ré, the old lighthouse beside it and the stone fish weirs that emerge at low tide. Next to it is a lighthouse and navigation aid museum. Admission costs a few euros, and queues can be long in peak season. The lighthouse is surrounded by pine forest and beaches, reachable by bicycle path, and lies about 20 km from Saint-Martin-de-Ré.
Opening hours
Daily, approx. 10:00–18:00 (extended in summer)
Nearby sights
- Ars-en-Ré
- Île de Ré Salt Marshes & Écomusée
- Saint-Martin-de-Ré & Vauban Fortifications
- Phare de Chassiron
- Abbaye des Châteliers
- Port des Minimes
- Plage de la Concurrence & Mail
- Tour de la Lanterne