Island of the Pillar

The island of the Pillar is a French island of 4 hectares, located in the Atlantic Ocean, with broad of the port of Herbaudière, with the northern point of the island of Noirmoutier. This uninhabited island, of granitic nature and ic Gneiss, is currently a natural reserve belonging to the Conservatoire of the littoral (since 1994). It has especially an ornithological interest: it is in particular a zone of nesting of the Eider to sleeping bag.

The island shelters a headlight being part of the southern beaconing of the estuary of the Loire. It depends on the commune of Noirmoutier-in-the Island.

It is accessible only by boat and the access is limited during the season of nesting of the birds.

Description

The island of the Pillar is located at approximately 4.500 m in the North-West of the northern point of the island of Noirmoutier. It contains various remarkable elements:

  • an old dwelling house or semaphore located on the fort at the center of the island,
  • Of the enclosures intended for the breeding,
  • the headlight of 1827 of form lighting on a cylindrical lathe in stone masonry of size located on the north-western point of the Pillar,
  • the headlight of 1877 in the shape of truncated pyramid crowned by a red brick wall located in the vicinity in the north of the cylindrical tower,
  • the pier of access located at the south-east of the island.

History

The island has a strategic position and a long story as a monastic place of retreat, bases piracy and military site of fortification.

The headlight

The island shelters a headlight being part of the southern beaconing of the estuary of the Loire. It since 1905 is managed by the subdivision of the Phares and Balises of Saint-Nazaire.

In 1996, the headlight was completely automated; it is telecontrolled from Saint-Nazaire. He does not visit himself.

Natural reserve

Geological August 1st
  • Interest: the maritime small island is of granitic and gneissic nature
  • ornithological Intérêt: Zone of nesting of the Eider duck to sleeping bag. Zone of nesting for the maritime Pipit
  • botanical Interest: Erodium maritimum.
  • the populations of seagulls and rabbits involved a very strong degradation of the vegetation.

Sources

See too

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