Name and Location

The Phare de la Noëveillard, also known as Tour-tan La Noëveillard, is a lighthouse located on the rocky headland of La Noëveillard, marking the entrance to the Nouveau Port de Pornic in France. The address is 45 Avenue de la Noëveillard, 44210 Pornic, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France. The coordinates are 47.1103307 N, 2.1154229 W.

2. Construction and History

The exact date of construction for the Phare de la Noëveillard is not documented, but local sources suggest it was built in the late 19th or early 20th century. The lighthouse has been listed as a masonry structure in cadastre records.

3. Architecture and Materials

The tower stands at a height of 15 meters (49 feet) and is constructed from stone or concrete masonry, with a white-painted exterior and a contrasting lantern. The focal height is not officially published.

4. Light and Navigation

Unfortunately, information on the light range and characteristic is unavailable in public ANFR or SHOM publications.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The tower itself is closed to the public, but visitors can access the surrounding headland and small beach via a coastal path (sentier des douaniers). To reach the lighthouse, follow Avenue de la Noëveillard westward 1 km from Pornic town center and cross the pier to the harbor entrance.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

From the base of the lighthouse, visitors can enjoy a panorama over the Loire-Atlantique coastline, Bay of Bourgneuf, and Île de Noirmoutier on clear days. The landscape features granite outcrops, tidal flats, and sandy coves.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Locals sometimes refer to the lighthouse as "Le petit Belvédère" due to its vantage point. While no major shipwrecks are recorded directly at the Noëveillard reef, folklore persistently whispers tales of 17th-century smuggling patrols.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is an active aid to navigation (harbor light) and operates fully automated, with no lighthouse keeper on site. It is not equipped with AIS or radar. The nautical chart reference is SHOM 7130 (Baie de Bourgneuf – Pornic).

9. Further Information

For further reading, consult the ANFR database entry "Ref. 701643" (08/2019), Direction Générale des Impôts – Cadastre (2010 update), Service des phares et balises (Ministère de la Transition écologique), and SHOM nautical chart 7130 “Baie de Bourgneuf – Pornic”.