The Museum

Located at the foot of the Grave Lighthouse, the Cordouan Lighthouse and Lighthouse & Buoyage Museum invites visitors to discover the fascinating history of the Cordouan Lighthouse and of maritime navigation aids in the Gironde estuary.

Built in 1859, the Grave Lighthouse stands on the Pointe de Grave, at the southern entrance to the Gironde estuary. From the top of its 28 metres, after climbing its 108 steps, visitors are rewarded with an exceptional panoramic view over the estuary and the majestic Cordouan Lighthouse.

The idea of creating a museum within the Grave Lighthouse emerged in 1982, during the first restoration campaign of the Cordouan Lighthouse, which made visits impossible at the time.
The French Lighthouse and Buoyage Service then made the technical room of the Grave Lighthouse available to display photographs dedicated to Cordouan. Access to the tower already offered visitors a remarkable panorama over the Pointe de Grave and the estuary, with Cordouan visible on the horizon.

Over the years, the museum expanded: one of the former lighthouse keepers’ apartments was converted to accommodate new collections. Among them is the Matelier service boat, which arrived in 2011 and had ensured the relief of the Cordouan Lighthouse for more than thirty years. It is now on display in the museum grounds.

Since 2017, the Grave Lighthouse has been under the management of the Conservatoire du Littoral.
A major restoration of the museum was carried out between 2020 and 2022, including the refurbishment of the building, the redesign of the exhibition spaces, and the enhancement of the collections.

Still run by an association, the museum aims to become the land-based counterpart of the Cordouan Lighthouse on the left bank of the estuary, as well as a true cultural hub dedicated to the Pointe de Grave.