Over the centuries, the landscape of the Pointe d’Agon has never ceased to change. Marked by the natural evolution of the coastline, this site, which forms an overhang of land into the sea, is the result of the accumulation of sand and alluvium deposited by the sea and river. Made up of dunes, salt meadows and vast stretches of sand, this unique site evolves with storms and tides, creating a unique environment.
Drone Havre Pointe Agon WebIn the 19th century, the Pointe d’Agon was recognized as a strategic site for maritime surveillance. The installation of a semaphore there was intended to guarantee the safety of navigation in a particularly perilous area, marked by strong currents and sandbanks.
Inaugurated in 1856, the Pointe d’Agon lighthouse replaced the fort that once ensured safety. Made of local cut stone and covered in zinc to withstand the elements, it is designed to withstand the strong winds typical of the region. The lighthouse is linked to the history of Regnéville, an important port in the region that welcomed over 300 ships a year from France, England and Norway. The lighthouse played an essential role in guiding sailors and enabling them to locate the port, particularly in difficult conditions. A watchman also lived there, as communication was complex in those days. Today, although the lighthouse is no longer in operation, it remains a historic landmark in La Manche, offering spectacular views of the seafront.
agon lighthouse background
Historically, the Pointe d’Agon was a site dedicated to fishing and grazing. Local inhabitants used the salt meadows to graze their livestock, a traditional practice that continues to this day with salt meadow sheep. This is an ideal site for fishing on foot, an activity that continues to attract many visitors at low tide, enabling them to harvest shellfish and crustaceans.
Since 1889, the Pointe d’Agon has been classified as a protected natural site. The flora and fauna of the Pointe d’Agon are rich and varied, thanks in large part to the diversity of habitats found on the site. Between the dunes, the salt meadows, the marshes and the estuary, we find a unique ecosystem, where we can observe several migratory species, seabirds but also a terrestrial fauna with notably hares and a great variety of small mammals. Take the GR223, which runs along the entire Manche coastline, and you’ll be able to explore this popular spot for hikers and nature lovers, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Sienne estuary.
At the heart of Pointe d’Agon, 32 granite stones are positioned in the shape of a Viking longship. It’s a funerary monument erected in 1976 in tribute to Fernand Lechanteur, a writer and poet born in Agon-Coutainville and a fervent defender of the Norman language!
Tide oyster beds at the tip of Agon Coutainville ©Coutances Tourisme
The site is accessible all year round A parking lot near the borde farm is available for visitors at the site entrance. You can get there on foot or by bike The GR 223 passes through the pointe d’Agon.
