Amédée Lighthouse

The Amédée lighthouse was made in Paris in cast iron, assembled there for inspection, taken apart and shipped out in pieces to be rebuilt on a sand islet in the southern lagoon, where it was lit in 1865 to mark the Boulari pass through the reef. It stands fifty six metres with 247 steps to the gallery, and the view from the top runs across the lagoon and the reef line. Day boats from Nouméa combine it with snorkelling.

Background

Rigolet made the metal parts in four months in 1862 and assembled the tower beside its works in the 19th arrondissement of Paris to prove its stability. It stood there from July 1862 to June 1864 and became a favourite goal for Parisian walks. Packed in 1,200 crates weighing 388 tonnes, the pieces travelled by barge to Le Havre and reached New Caledonia in November 1864. Work on site began with the foundation stone on 18 January 1865, and the lamp was first lit on 15 November 1865, Empress Eugénie's saint's day. It was the first metal lighthouse built in France. The 4 hectares island is home to some 240 breeding fairy terns.

Source: Wikipedia, "Amédée Lighthouse"

The main sights

• The cast-iron tower - fifty six metres, made in Paris and rebuilt on the islet.
• The 247 steps - the spiral climb to the gallery and the lagoon view.
• The Boulari pass - the reef channel the light was built to mark.
• The islet reef - the coral around the sand cay, snorkelled from the beach.

When to go

April to November is the dry, cooler season. Boats run daily in season and less often outside it. Rough weather cancels crossings.

Practical notes

Day trips are packaged with lunch and shows and are expensive for what they are. The islet is small and crowded when the boats arrive. Crossings are cancelled in wind.

Nearby

Îlot Maître is closer to Nouméa, and Nouméa is northwest.

Key facts