Lighthouse
Aiguillon Lighthouse
Saint-Nazaire · Loire-Atlantique
A historic onshore lighthouse in Saint-Nazaire, descended from a first light of 1756 and part of the old leading-light system of the Loire estuary.
- Suggested time
- 20 to 40 minutes.
- Type of place
- Lighthouse
- Atmosphere
- Urban, technical and historic.
- Getting there
- Visible from the Saint-Nazaire coastal area; outside viewing only.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 8/10
- As a couple
- 8/10
- With friends
- 8/10
- Solo
- 9/10
- With a dog
- 7/10
- Reduced mobility
- 7/10
These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.
About
The Aiguillon lighthouse is one of Saint-Nazaire’s onshore lighthouses. A first lighthouse was built on the Pointe de l’Ève in 1756. Together with the Tour du Commerce, built in 1857, it formed a leading line to guide ships entering the Loire. The current lighthouse has been automated since 1976 and keeps an old Fresnel lens dated 1857, still in use according to the tourist office.
What you will see
- Status: an automated lighthouse used for maritime signalling.
- Visits: outside viewing only.
- Construction: the first lighthouse was built in 1756.
- Light: a working light signal.
- With children: yes, for an outside visit.
- History: it once formed a leading line with the Tour du Commerce to make the Loire entrance safe.
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- The leading line helped ships avoid the Banc des Charpentiers.
- The current lighthouse has been automated since 1976.
- A Fresnel lens from 1857 is still in use, according to the tourist office.
- Saint-Nazaire has several onshore lighthouses.
- Transport: very easy to reach in town.
Practical information
- Public transport
- Very easy to reach in town.
- Services
- Town services in Saint-Nazaire
- Opening
- The outside can be seen all year
- Parking
- Town parking, depending on where you approach from
- Accessibility
- Good outside access, depending on the viewpoint
- Best time
- Late afternoon
- Photography
- A good architectural subject in town
- Prices
- Free to see from outside
- Nearby
- The Saint-Nazaire seafront, the Kerlédé lighthouse, Villès-Martin beach
Tips on the spot
- Check the visit status on the day before you travel, and do not confuse access to the site, the foot of the lighthouse and the inside of the tower.
- For a lighthouse open to visitors, check the time of the last climb, not just the closing time.
- For a lighthouse at sea, only watch it from a boat run by a professional or from a safe viewpoint on land.
- Bring a windproof layer, even in summer; stairs and galleries can be slippery with rain or spray.
- With children, check the number of steps and any minimum age; with vertigo, the climb to the gallery is not for everyone.
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- Working lighthouses are maritime safety equipment: respect all restricted technical areas.
- For photos, use a wide angle at the foot of the lighthouse and a telephoto lens for lighthouses seen from a distance.
- On an island, check the last boat back before starting the visit.
- On cliffs, stay behind the barriers and on the paths; keep dogs on a lead in nature reserves.
- Visits can be cancelled at the last minute for safety reasons.
- Combine it with the Kerlédé and Villès-Martin lighthouses for a walk around Saint-Nazaire’s lights.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of lighthouse is it?
An urban onshore lighthouse.
Is the lighthouse still in service?
Yes, it is automated and used for maritime signalling.
Can I visit the lighthouse?
You can see it from outside.
When was it built?
The first lighthouse was built in 1756.
Since when has it been automated?
Since 1976.
Which lens does it use?
A Fresnel lens from 1857, still in use according to the tourist office.
See also the lighthouses in Saint-Nazaire.
Stay in Saint-Nazaire
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Read in the journal
- City guideWhat to do in Saint-Nazaire: the complete guideThe submarine base, Escal’Atlantic, the Espadon submarine, the shipyards, the Saint-Nazaire bridge, the beaches and the coastal path: what to do in and around Saint-Nazaire.
- ChristmasWhat to do in Loire-Atlantique during the Christmas holidaysLe Voyage en hiver and the Nantes Christmas market, Guérande and the wild coast, Clisson and the Brière: our ideas for the 2026 Christmas holidays in Loire-Atlantique.
- SeasonWhat to do in Loire-Atlantique during the All Saints’ holidaysThe Machines de l’île, the Château des ducs, the Guérande salt marshes, the Brière and Clisson: our ideas for the 2026 All Saints’ holidays in Loire-Atlantique.
Traveller reviews
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Photograph: Whiteredge · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons