The Grown Up Gapper: FRANCE

Its all been leading up to this - making sure I was here on the right day, when the tides fitted in with the timetables of the rather sparse rail service - to enable a trip to the Cordouan Lighthouse.

Sitting in the open sea at the mouth of the River Gironde the Cordouan Lighthouse is accessible by boat from the seaside resort of Royan. You go out on a boat that is towing one of those multi-purpose things that has wheels as well as a propeller. Once near the lighthouse you transfer to the other vessel that can then take you across the sand banks and deposit you on a causeway that leads to the lighthouse. Wear shorts, no socks and old shoes because sometimes you get your feet wet.

Cordouan achieved UNESCO World Heritage status last year and is no ordinary lighthouse. Firstly it is still manned all year round and the keepers or guardians in French do maintenance work as well as showing visitors round. Secondly it was the first lighthouse in the world to have Fresnel lenses (the lighthouse crew will know what I am on about here). And thirdly it had Royal patronage so as well as accommodation for the keepers it has a Kings Apartment and a Royal Chapel - yes a chapel in a lighthouse. Although I will add that no member of royalty ever stayed here.

Of course it has been restored to bring it up to tip top condition for its World Heritage bid but the detail in the carving is amazing as is the splendour of the inside. I would add that the whole 4 hour trip boat + lighthouse was in French, which didn't bother me as i know how a lighthouse works anyway. I do suspect though that with its new status there will be more overseas visitors so that might change.

Anyway I will leave you now with pictures from the day.