Headlight of the Saint-Gildas point

The headlight of the point Saint-Gildas is a recent realization. In end of the Point Saint-Gildas, on the commune of Préfailles, it marks out this point of the Pays of Retz at the southern entry of the mouth of the Loire.

Bordered by a long wild coast, this small original headlight, offers a very beautiful sight on the Île of Noirmoutier and the estuary of the the Loire.

History

In 1861, a semaphore is built with the Saint-Gildas point.
In 1941, the first fire is installed on a concrete pylon on the old semaphore of the Saint-Gildas point required by the German troops. Optics comes from the Phare of the course Gris Nose.
In 1949, the Navy puts an end to the activities of the semaphore. But a night beaconing is claimed by the navigators.
In 1954 a provisional fire is initially installed on a concrete post located on one of the old blockhouses of the second world war. (scintillating fire with sectors white-reds and greens).
In 1958, the semaphore being placed at the disposal of the Service of the headlights and beacons, fire is moved inside this one, in the old room of day before.

A housing of guarding is arranged: fire will be kept of 1959 to 1986, date of its automonisation. A Radiobalise will function there of 1959 to 1999.

In 1993, the concrete structure surmounting the old semaphore is dismounted and replaced by pylon carrying current fire.

Current headlight

It is a metal pylon surmounting the old semaphore, in masonry of stone, painted in white. The pylon and the lantern are painted in green

It is automated and telecontrolled starting from Saint-Nazaire.

The old semaphore

The unutilised semaphore by the Service of the headlights and beacons, was entrusted by the Navy to the commune of Préfailles.

Since 2004, it is a space museographic.

He tells the animated episode of this zone of the Poche of Saint-Nazaire, where the German occupant resisted until May 11th, 1945.

He reports also the many maritime catastrophes which took place with broad Côte of Jade, like the famous shipwreck of the vapor Saint-Philibert, which, of return of an excursion to Noirmoutier, in 1931, sank with its 500 passengers.

Internal bonds

List of the headlights of France

External bonds

photographs

Headlight of the point of Saint-Gildas (Mérimée Base - inheritance)

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