Name and Location

Phare de l'Île d'Aix, also known as Île d'Aix Lighthouse, stands on the ramparts of Fort de la Rade at the southern tip of Île d'Aix, Charente-Maritime, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. Its address is 7 Fort de la Rade, 17123 Île-d'Aix, France.

Construction and History

The exact year of construction for Phare de l'Île d'Aix is unknown, but it was built during the 19th-century military fortifications era, with the adjacent Fort de la Rade begun in the 1840s. The light pedestal is integrated into the masonry ramparts of Fort de la Rade.

Architecture and Materials

The tower form is a rectangular masonry block built atop the fort's southern curtain wall, with no separate tower. Construction materials include local limestone and masonry used for both the fort and the light pedestal.

Light and Navigation

Phare de l'Île d'Aix is an active major coastal light, automated, with electric beacon and sectorized lantern. The light characteristic is a flash every 5 seconds (0.3 second flash + 4.7 seconds eclipse) over bearings 118° – 103° for white and 103° ��� 118° for red.

Accessibility and Visiting

The fort and ramparts are partially open to guided visits in summer, but the light pedestal and lantern are off-limits. Visitors can reach the fort by ferry or private boat from Fouras-les-Bains and then use bicycle or foot paths to access the area.

Notable Views and Landscape

Perched on low limestone cliffs, Phare de l'Île d'Aix overlooks the Pertuis d'Antioche and the Atlantic approaches. From the ramparts, visitors enjoy panoramic views of Fort Boyard, the Île d'Oléron, and the Charente estuary.

Anecdotes and Folklore

There is no documented folklore specific to Phare de l'Île d'Aix, but the fort on which it stands was a naval prison during the Second Empire and subsequently hosted artillery units until World War II. It is speculated that cost-saving measures in the late 19th century led to the decision to mount the beacon on the fort rather than erecting a separate tower.

Technical and Operational Details

Phare de l'Île d'Aix is an active aid to navigation, fully automated with no resident keepers. The light apparatus is managed by the Service des phares et balises (French Directorate of Maritime Safety).

Further Information

For further information, visit Île d'Aix tourism office at https://iledaix-tourisme.fr or consult SHOM nautical chart 7116 (Charente estuary) and US NGA List of Lights, Pub. 113: entry D 1256.