Genesis of restoration
Automated in 1980, the Espiguette lighthouse has continued to light our coast for 150 years and guide sailors. An icon and beacon among the sand dunes of the Pointe de l'Espiguette, it is now the subject of a genuine tourist and cultural development project reconciling its function as a maritime signpost and an ecotourism site.
THE BIRTH OF AN ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
In 2014, the State, which owns the lighthouses, identified around one hundred remarkable lighthouses. They are all automated and no longer require a permanent human presence to ensure their maritime signalling function. As a result, many of the lighthouse annexes, which were once used to house the lighthouse keepers, are no longer in use and are of heritage interest. It is in this context that the State turned to the coastline conservatory to study the feasibility of enhancing the value of lighthouses and their ancillary buildings through public reception projects.
The coastline conservatory has launched studies on the cultural and tourist development of lighthouses located near land it already owned. The Espiguette lighthouse in the municipality of le Grau du Roi, classified as a historical monument and still in operation, has shown that it is entirely possible to reconcile the reception of the public with maritime signage.
JÉRÔME HIRIGOYEN - PROJECT MANAGER AT THE COASTLINE CONSERVATORY
“More than 150 years after its construction, the Espiguette lighthouse opens its doors to visitors. Since the construction of the Alexandria tower on the island of Pharos, the role of lighthouses has not been limited to guiding sailors. They were also symbols of wealth and power. The decorative care and imagination associated with these monuments of maritime architecture complement their functional interest. However, with automation, the lighthouse keepers ceased their functions and the maintenance they had been carrying out until then was limited to maintaining the proper functioning of the elements linked to maritime signalling without guaranteeing the conservation of the architectural interest of the building.
The State then decided to entrust a selection of lighthouses to the coastline conservatory so that it could design cultural and tourist development projects with the local authorities concerned. By opening them to the public, the lighthouses have an additional function that justifies restoration and maintenance work such as that carried out on the Espiguette lighthouse. Visiting allows for conservation !”
LE GRAU DU ROI, PROJECT OWNER IN THE RESTORATION PROJECT
The cultural and tourist development studies showed that opening this maritime heritage to the public was an opportunity to develop the area, but also a way of restoring and maintaining these listed buildings. The city of Le Grau du Roi therefore decided to take charge of the restoration and development of the Espiguette lighthouse, as well as the management of the lighthouse and its annexes and the reception of the public.
DOCTOR ROBERT CRAUSTE - MAYOR OF LE GRAU DU ROI
``Preserve the lighthouse and enhance it. It is this conviction, coupled with a strong will, that has driven our approach. The monument will be opened to visitors so that the people of Le Grau du Roi can enjoy it themselves and so that the Espiguette lighthouse becomes a tourist attraction in the spirit of the Grand Site de France. The public will be able to discover a built heritage integrated into a remarkable environment and in a sustainable tourism orientation all year round.``
PARTNERSHIPS
The cultural and tourist eco-development project for the Espiguette lighthouse site was entrusted to the municipality of le Grau du Roi by the State (owner of the building) and the Coastline Conservatory (beneficiary). The restoration and development of this natural, architectural and historical heritage in its entirety (pathway, restoration and creation of the route) cost 2.6 million and was made possible thanks to the following support :
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ESPIGUETTE LIGHTHOUSE
Project owner
Municipality of Grau-du-Roi
Mayor of Grau-du-Roi - Robert Crauste
Project manager
Restoration of the listed historic monument
Chief architect of the Monuments Historiques - Pierre-Jean Trabon
Heritage architect - Maëlle Ferrieu
Development of the Espiguette lighthouse site, reception building and interiors
Heritage architect, representative - A+P Architects, Claire Florenzano
Heritage architect, OPC - AAUN, Ugo Nocera
Landscape designer - Agence Thomas Gentilini, Alexandre Lebel
Scenographer - Flavio Bonuccelli
Curator - Philippe BELIN
Graphic designer - Atelier JLB, Claire Boitel
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Municipality of Grau-du-Roi
Conservatoire du Littoral
Conseil départemental du Gard / Espaces naturels sensibles
DDTM, Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea
DIRM Phares et Balises
DIR Méditerranée DIRMED/DRC
DRAC Occitanie / Conservation des Monuments Historiques
DREAL Occitanie
Medieval AFDP (feasibility study)
Occitanie Region, Directorate of Ecological and Energy Transition
UDAP (Gard)
Grau-du-Roi Tourist Office
Sémaphore de l'Espiguette, Marine Nationale
Syndicat Mixte de Gestion de la Camargue Gardoise