I think that I may diverge from Héron at this point…
I am not convinced Saint Vaast-la-Hougue Jetée is really a lighthouse. But then it is only fair that I should be able to explain why I might contest the lighthouse status of this feu; I'd find that difficult other than to point out it simply marks the end of a jetty and the entrance to a harbour. The Lighthouse Directory is no arbiter: if you've taken a look at their website you will no doubt have found mere posts with lights on top included as lighthouses in their listings. Come on! They are not; they are markers. Feux even. I'll concede that they are most definitely in the same business of keeping folk on the water safe. Lighthouses? Of course not.Anyway— JBH, whatever his opinion as to what constitutes 'phare', has made an image of this Cotentin tiddler which adds to the diversity of phareology, and it is a very pretty little light anyway. The Lighthouse Directory explains its origins and pedigree: this tourelle dates back to 1865 (station established 1850). It exhibits a focal plane of twelve metres (39ft), shows a white, red, or green light, depending on direction and occults twice each second. It is an eleven metre (36ft) octagonal cast iron tower with lantern and gallery. It has (or had) a fog siren (one long and one short blast every thirty seconds). The tower is painted white, with the lantern and gallery red. Huelse has an historic postcard view. Worth a look!
The Saint Vaast light is one of many cast iron tourelles prefabricated by the firm of Sautter et Lemonnier. Apparently this is the oldest survivor of its class, since the first one built, for Calais Jetée de l'Est, was swept away by a storm. You can see that it is to be found on the end of the jetty of the new harbour of Saint Vaast-la-Hougue, on the east side of town facing l'Île de Tatihou. You can access it by walking down the jetty, We've done it more than once.
If you are in Saint Vaast you will no doubt spot the distinctive Vauban tower that once defended the harbour but probably have missed the lighthouse at Morsalines, even if you did go round the bay to observe the modest phare at Pointe de Saire. A bit of a honeypot round here, but with good reason: it is rather pleasant coastal country, up there on the Cotentin Peninsula. There are seafood platters to be had. And it is about to get better, at Barfleur!
Both Morsalines and Pointe de Saire are detailed on the Lighthouse Directory, as you'd expect. JBH doesn't bother with either. Is Morsalines a lighthouse anyway? Where is the lantern?
Illustration by Jean Benoīt Héron; snaps by me.
If you are in Saint Vaast you will no doubt spot the distinctive Vauban tower that once defended the harbour but probably have missed the lighthouse at Morsalines, even if you did go round the bay to observe the modest phare at Pointe de Saire. A bit of a honeypot round here, but with good reason: it is rather pleasant coastal country, up there on the Cotentin Peninsula. There are seafood platters to be had. And it is about to get better, at Barfleur!
Both Morsalines and Pointe de Saire are detailed on the Lighthouse Directory, as you'd expect. JBH doesn't bother with either. Is Morsalines a lighthouse anyway? Where is the lantern?
Illustration by Jean Benoīt Héron; snaps by me.
