Issoudun transmitter, Radio transmission facility in Saint-Aoustrille and Neuvy-Pailloux, France
The Issoudun transmitter is a radio broadcasting facility located in Neuvy-Pailloux and Saint-Aoustrille that contains more than 50 broadcasting antennas. Among these are 12 rotating structures reaching 80 meters in height with a span of 60 meters, designed to broadcast shortwave signals for radio stations across the world.
The facility began operations in 1950 with Center A and was later expanded with Centers B and E. This development was part of France's efforts to establish international shortwave broadcasting capabilities following World War II.
The antennas bear names of major rivers like Ganges, Volga, and Mekong, reflecting their role in reaching audiences across different continents. This naming choice shows how the facility served as a symbol of global connection and French presence worldwide.
The site is not open to the public, but a museum managed by ACHDR preserves and displays French broadcasting heritage for visitors. This museum allows people to learn about the facility and its historical equipment without direct access to the operating transmission center.
The site is known for its impressively large antenna structures visible from a distance that shape the region's landscape. These massive constructions attract enthusiasts of radio history and offer dramatic photographic opportunities from outside the secured perimeter.
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