Chassiron Lighthouse and northern Oléron

The northern tip of the island of Oléron evokes mixed feelings. Its wide open spaces give a sense of boundless freedom, its cliffs make it feel like the end of the world, while its traditional villages transport you to another era. Add to this a magnificent lighthouse watching over the surrounding area, and you have the perfect combination of history and culture mixed with exceptional panoramic views.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.73 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 11 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Chassiron Lighthouse car park.

(S/E) From the car park, take the road leading to the lighthouse and follow it to the left. At the gate, go around the lighthouse on the right, taking the small path that runs along the coast. Continue along this path on the left. It passes by the semaphore, next to a replica of an old fish trap. At the three-way junction, continue on thePR® 28 towards "Les Huttes". The path runs along the coast and joins the tarmac road.

(1) Cross the road and take Rue de l'Océan, which leads to the village of Chassiron.

(2) In the village, turn right onto Rue de Chasiron à la Gautrie. Reach the village of La Gautrie by turning left at thethird street, 280 metres further on. At the three-way junction, take the street on the left and follow it for 200 metres.

(3) Take Rue des Prés, which leads back to Chassiron. At the end of the street, turn right and then immediately left onto Rue du Puits. Then take thefirst right, Rue des Perots, towards the campsite and follow it to the end.

(4) At the intersection, turn right and head for the Chassiron Lighthouse car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 10 m - Car park - Parking du Phare de Chassiron
  2. 1 : km 1.62 - alt. 7 m - Intersection with the "Chemin de la Côte Sauvage"
  3. 2 : km 2.11 - alt. 11 m - Chassiron village
  4. 3 : km 2.69 - alt. 11 m - Exit from the village of La Gautrie
  5. 4 : km 3.5 - alt. 10 m - Intersection with the road
  6. S/E : km 3.73 - alt. 10 m - Car park - Parking du Phare de Chassiron

Notes

Very easy hike, not recommended on windy days
Be careful along Rue de l'Océan, as the road is narrow

Worth a visit

Chassiron Lighthouse
Cliffs
Chassiron village
Village of La Gautrie

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
rdecremps
rdecremps

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very easy hike

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Vivrenature19
Vivrenature19

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route along the coast with views of the ocean. Passing through the villages gives an interesting insight into local life.
After the hike, climb the steps of the lighthouse to enjoy views of the island and the magnificent lighthouse garden.
Thank you for sharing.

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th.postel@cegetel.net
th.postel@cegetel.net

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, you realise that it's not just the lighthouse that makes it worthwhile.

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thor.veyziat
thor.veyziat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you for sharing this easy hike. All the explanations provided are useful and interesting.

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Isabelle BDP
Isabelle BDP

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

With fewer people around, it can be a nice little hike, without any difficulty, except for the stairs at the lighthouse if you want to see further 😉

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Gipet
Gipet

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful sea views and exploration of the dwellings near the lighthouse

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NaDiA14
NaDiA14

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Beautiful view from Phrare.
Pleasant walk along the cliffs with magnificent scenery.
Passage through the village of no interest.
The return to the car park, the access road to the lighthouse is not very well suited for pedestrians.

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Baladeuse66
Baladeuse66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful site dominated by the lighthouse at the tip of the island.
As you walk around the headland, you can enjoy beautiful views of the cliffs and rocks.
Vineyards add a touch of greenery to the seaside walk.

Very popular with walkers and cyclists...

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deforge
deforge

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We extended the route starting from St Denis (yellow markings).

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francois_lyon
francois_lyon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A short but very interesting walk with pleasant scenery.
The northern part of the island gives an impression of wide open spaces and contrasts with the rest of Oléron.
Even at the end of June, it is quite busy, but parking is easy and there are no traffic problems.
The gardens around the lighthouse are worth a visit, and the climb up is rewarded with a beautiful view.

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bonheurenmarche
bonheurenmarche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
This is an unmissable hike on the island. The landscapes alone make this walk unforgettable. At low tide, you can see the unique geology of the bedrock.

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