Phare de la pointe Saint-Gildas, Coastal lighthouse in Préfailles, France.
The Phare de la Pointe Saint-Gildas is a coastal lighthouse in Préfailles made of a metal mast about 13.5 meters (44 feet) high positioned above a former masonry building. The tower features white walls and a green lantern room that marks the coastline.
The site began in 1861 as a semaphore station for ship communication and coastal monitoring. During World War II, a temporary light was added using optical equipment from other French coastal stations before the current structure was built.
The former semaphore building now houses a museum documenting maritime tragedies, including the 1931 Saint-Philibert steamship disaster. These exhibits reflect the importance of the coast and its dangers in the lives of people in this region.
The lighthouse has operated automatically since 1986 under remote control from Saint-Nazaire, which means there is no on-site staff. Visitors can explore the surrounding grounds and the museum housed in the adjacent building year-round.
The museum documents the sinking of the passenger ship Saint-Philibert in 1931, one of the region's most tragic maritime disasters. From this spot, visitors can take in panoramic views of the Loire estuary and Bourgneuf Bay.
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