VER-sur-MER PHARE or Pointe-de-Ver does not seem to be exactly brimming with come hither appeal.
The fact is, this underwhelming phare has next to no colour variation on its white washed walls and tower, so JBH's rendition looks a little blank and suggests, dare I say it, a rather dull lighthouse. It passes almost unnoticed when JBH includes his rendition of Ver-sur-Mer in his published groupings, agendas and collections. There is no postcard. My acknowledgement to JBH for the illustration left.
Apparently Ver-sur-Mer sits in a road full of post war seaside villas (confirmed) and might almost be mistaken for one, except for the lantern. Seemingly. We have so far missed it; it is set back from the coast it protects, and shines from afar…
Ironically, Mrs Melling and I have actually been along the nearby seafront, back in 1987 I think it was, but saw no sign of a lighthouse. But it was (and is) there. Sooner or later we will have to go and gaze upon its bland countenance. (now achieved) Nothing wrong with the lantern though, that is good enough to be pulled out by JBH in his Histoire[s] de Phares as a good example of quality lantern design.
You can get the full entry from The Lighthouse Directory ; here is a précis:
The lighthouse was established in 1808 and built like this anew in 1908.
It has a focal plane of 42 metres (138ft); three white flashes every fifteen seconds. The tower is a 15 metre high (53ft) square tower with a lantern and gallery, rising from a single storey keeper's house. This lighthouse stood on the heights above Juno Beach during the initial D-Day assault by Canadian and other Allied forces. The lighthouse was heavily damaged in the fighting and had to be restored extensively after the end of the war. Located on the Rue du Pavillon just off the Avenue du 6 Juin in Ver-sur-Mer, about 20 kilometres northwest of Caen.
Ver-sur-Mer is of course far better known these days as the location of The British Normandy Memorial, completed in 2021 and the centre of the 80th anniversary commemoration events on 6 June 2024. The memorial wasn't there when we first passed through Ver-sur-Mer, but it may very well strengthen our resolve to seek out the modest lighthouse described above. With a bit of luck I might then be able to take at least a reference snap of the phare, (yes yes, see below, it is done) which I can splice into this post to entice you to seek it out as well, when and if you are calling in on the BNM……
The fact is, this underwhelming phare has next to no colour variation on its white washed walls and tower, so JBH's rendition looks a little blank and suggests, dare I say it, a rather dull lighthouse. It passes almost unnoticed when JBH includes his rendition of Ver-sur-Mer in his published groupings, agendas and collections. There is no postcard. My acknowledgement to JBH for the illustration left.
Apparently Ver-sur-Mer sits in a road full of post war seaside villas (confirmed) and might almost be mistaken for one, except for the lantern. Seemingly. We have so far missed it; it is set back from the coast it protects, and shines from afar…
Ironically, Mrs Melling and I have actually been along the nearby seafront, back in 1987 I think it was, but saw no sign of a lighthouse. But it was (and is) there. Sooner or later we will have to go and gaze upon its bland countenance. (now achieved) Nothing wrong with the lantern though, that is good enough to be pulled out by JBH in his Histoire[s] de Phares as a good example of quality lantern design.
You can get the full entry from The Lighthouse Directory ; here is a précis:
The lighthouse was established in 1808 and built like this anew in 1908.
It has a focal plane of 42 metres (138ft); three white flashes every fifteen seconds. The tower is a 15 metre high (53ft) square tower with a lantern and gallery, rising from a single storey keeper's house. This lighthouse stood on the heights above Juno Beach during the initial D-Day assault by Canadian and other Allied forces. The lighthouse was heavily damaged in the fighting and had to be restored extensively after the end of the war. Located on the Rue du Pavillon just off the Avenue du 6 Juin in Ver-sur-Mer, about 20 kilometres northwest of Caen.
There you are then. The one we've so far missed (but now made amends in this respect) and not been able to work into a route, even though it is only a few kms from Ouistreham. Tsch! It's embarrassing. Even Michelin only rates this one as a feu, so the lighthouse symbol is not 'blacked in'. Can you spot it on the map extract, below? Clue: Gold Beach.
