Name and Location

The Grand Port Lighthouse (Phare du Grand Port d'Aix-les-Bains) is located at 5 Place Président Edouard Herriot, 73100 Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. Its coordinates are 45°42′19.76�� N, 5°53′05.14″ E.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was likely erected as part of port modernizations during the mid- to late-2000s, although the exact date of original installation is not documented. It stands at the end of a short stone pier that shelters the small yachting port adjacent to Aix-les-Bains' lakeside promenade.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse structure is a slender square or octagonal metal post mounted on a concrete or masonry pierhead. The materials used are likely metal tower and concrete or stone foundation, based on local cadastral survey data from 2010.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse's light characteristic is unknown, but it is likely a fixed or flashing white light marking the marina entrance. Its range is typically under 5 nmi for inland lake beacons.

Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can walk the public pier free of charge at any time (daylight hours recommended for safety). However, there is no guided tour or internal access to the lamp and mechanism. Nearest parking is available on-street along Place Président Edouard Herriot and adjacent car parks.

Notable Views and Landscape

From its base, visitors enjoy panoramic views across Lac du Bourget toward the Dent du Chat and La Chambotte ridge. The promenade features cafés, boat rental kiosks, and beach areas.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local boating clubs hold informal "lighthouse swims" around the pier on summer solstice evenings. No recorded shipwrecks are associated with the breakwater light.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and managed by the Port Authority of Aix-les-Bains (Syndicat Mixte du Grand Port). There is no official IALA light number published, and it does not have AIS/Radar installed on the structure.

Further Information

Aix-les-Bains Spa and Thermal Baths (Thermes Chevalley), Casino Grand Cercle, Musée Faure (impressionist art), boat excursions on Lac du Bourget, including the Belle Époque steamer La Savoie, lakeside cafés, beaches, and bicycle paths are nearby attractions.