Lighthouse (La Trinité)

Built at the top of a basalt peak, it rises 162.55 m above the sea, which makes it the highest lighthouse in France despite its modest size. It is a small square turret of 14m high made of stones and rubble, painted in brick red supporting a white lantern.

A bit of history:
1812 First project: A letter from the Minister of the Navy to the Director General of the Navy's depots records the project to establish a lighthouse (19 November 1812).
1847 Second project: Talks are initiated in 1847 between the Admiral Governor of Martinique and the Lighthouse and Beacon Service, created by Napoleon I in 1806.
1852 Decision to build: The Lighthouse Commission decides, on 19 December 1852, to build a 3rd order lighthouse at the Pointe de la Caravelle.
1854 Termination of the contract: On 14 February 1854, the contract for the construction of the lighthouse is terminated.
1860 - 1861 Construction: The construction of the lighthouse is undertaken between 1860 and 1861, under Napoleon III. The establishment Henry-Lepaute, a marine clockmaker in Paris, supplied the Ministry of the Navy and the Colonies with a fixed-light catadioptric device for the sum of 19,440 francs.
1883 Project for a new lantern: In 1883, it was recommended by Mr Émile ALLARD, Inspector General of Lighthouses and Beacons, to buy a new lantern which would cost 25,000 francs, to which should be added 600 francs for packing and transport. The lighthouse tower would have to be modified to accommodate this light, which required special technical conditions.
1905 Eruption of Mount Pelée: The minutes of 17 June 1905 indicate the consequences for navigation of the destruction of the St Pierre semaphore lighthouse following the eruption of Mount Pelée.
The lighthouses of La Caravelle and Pointe des Nègres are thus the only two important lights in Martinique. The commission states that an improvement of the lighting capacity is necessary. The construction of two new lighthouses at Îlet Cabrit and Pointe des Nègres was carried out in 1927. They are identical in every respect.
1926 Reinforcement of the characteristics: considered in 1883, the reinforcement is carried out in 1926.
A Barbier, Benard and Turenne optic is installed with a rhythm of 3 white flashes in 15 seconds to differentiate it from the Pointe Vigie lighthouse in Sainte-Lucie.
1950 Rings, lodgings of the guards and radio beacon: Mr. Gervais de ROUVILLE, director of the Service des Phares et Balises in Paris, recommends some maintenance of the rings of the lenses and to postpone the construction of additional lodgings for a few years.
The decision of the Lighthouse Commission on 10 November 1950 to establish a radio beacon on the tip of the Caravelle was never followed up.
1970 Automation: The automation is achieved thanks to a butane gas device requiring the replacement of the optics.
From then on, the lighthouse was transformed into an unguarded light by ministerial decision of 5 May 1970.
1985 and 1986 Electrification by wind turbine: Considered in 1973, electrification was carried out in 1985 and 1986 with a 300W wind generator, a new device with a xenon lamp and a change of optics.
1987 The last keeper: The first keeper was Mr LHOSTIS appointed on 17 April 1862; the last, Mr Roger CESAIRE, was appointed to the Pointe des Nègres lighthouse in May 1987.
The lighthouse was kept for 105 years.

Three keepers took turns (6 days followed by 3 days of rest). They travelled on foot from Tartane, with the help of a donkey, listed in the Lighthouses and Beacons inventory, whose stable is still visible. Near the lighthouse, a cistern collected rainwater and two wooden huts were used to house the keepers. Their job was to maintain the lighthouse in the morning and watch over the fire at night. They also wound the weight of the lens twice a night, in the same way as for a clock, and filled the tank.
A small oratory made by the guards is still visible nearby.
1995 and 1996 Solarisation: Solarisation with photovoltaic panels and modernisation of the lighthouse. The 1970 optics were reinstalled, thus providing much better visibility.
2008 Modernisation of the systems: Installation of a latest generation automaton with remote management and control functions between the lighthouse and the Service des Phares et Balises-Polmar located in the port of Fort de France.
2013 Renovation and listing as a Historical Monument: After the regional commission for heritage and sites met on 1 October at the prefecture, the lighthouse became the 100th monument listed as a Historical Monument in Martinique. Its weathervane has been restored.

source : https://www.dm.martinique.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/le-phare-de-la-caravelle-a80.html

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