Phare de la pointe Saint-Gildas

The metal pole lighthouse stands 13.45 meters high above a former masonry semaphore building, featuring white walls and a green lantern structure.

The site began as a semaphore station in 1861, later incorporating a provisional light during World War II using optics from Cap Gris-Nez lighthouse.

The former semaphore building now houses a museum that documents maritime events, including the 1931 Saint-Philibert steamship disaster that claimed 500 lives.

The lighthouse operates automatically since 1986, controlled remotely from Saint-Nazaire, with a 180W halogen lantern visible for 14 nautical miles.

The museum space presents exhibits about the Saint-Nazaire pocket and features panoramic views of both the Loire estuary and Bourgneuf Bay.

Location: Préfailles

Elevation above the sea: 20.9 m

Height: 13.45 m

GPS coordinates: 47.13360,-2.24583

Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:55