Lighthouse
Noëveillard Lighthouse
Pornic · Loire-Atlantique
A lighthouse-house built in 1845, first lit in 1846, raised in the 19th century and now owned by the town of Pornic, with SNSM premises.
- Suggested time
- 30 minutes outside, about 2 hours for a guided visit.
- Type of place
- Lighthouse
- Atmosphere
- Seaside, historic and maritime.
- Getting there
- Rue Claude et Rosy Gourio, Pornic. The outside is accessible; the inside only during occasional visits.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 8/10
- As a couple
- 9/10
- With friends
- 9/10
- Solo
- 8/10
- With a dog
- 3/10
- Reduced mobility
- 4/10
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 Noëveillard lighthouse was built in 1845 and first lit on 1 July 1846, at a time when this part of Pornic was still barely built up. The original tower was about 11 m high. Work carried out in 1886 enlarged the keeper’s house and raised the light by 4 m, giving the building its current appearance. The lighthouse was automated in the early 1980s. The town of Pornic became the owner of the building, which has been made available to the SNSM, the sea rescue service, since 2009. In 2026, occasional visits called L’éclaireur de la côte se dévoile were organised with the tourist office and the lifeboat crew.
What you will see
- Name: the Noëveillard lighthouse.
- Town: Pornic.
- Status: still in service and automated.
- Visits: the outside can be seen freely; the inside is only open during occasional organised visits.
- Height: the current tower is about 15 m; the original 11 m tower was raised by 4 m.
- Light: a sector light.
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- Construction: built in 1845, with major work in 1886.
- First lit: 1 July 1846.
- Automation: early 1980s.
- Heritage: municipal maritime heritage, owned by the town of Pornic.
- With children: in 2026, the guided visit was recommended from age 10.
- History: the building is now used by the SNSM, while remaining a working lighthouse.
- It was the only major building in the area when it was built.
- The 1886 work enlarged the keeper’s house.
- The roof was also redone at that time.
- The town of Pornic used its pre-emption right to buy the building and preserve this heritage.
- Since 2009, the premises have housed the SNSM.
- In 2026, the visits were organised with SNSM members.
- Transport: reach Pornic, then walk.
Practical information
- Public transport
- Reach Pornic, then walk.
- Services
- The services of Pornic and the Noëveillard marina are close by
- Parking
- In the Noëveillard area; plan ahead in season
- Pets
- Not allowed during guided visits
- Safety
- Respect the SNSM’s operational premises
- Best time
- Late afternoon for the coast; a guided visit for the heritage
- Photography
- Very photogenic with the coast and the seaside architecture
- Prices
- Free outside; occasional visits are paid, on booking
- Ideal for
- Heritage, families with older children, the SNSM, photographers
- Nearby
- Noëveillard beach, the marina, Pornic, the coastal path, Pornic castle
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.
- Ask the Pornic tourist office about the dates of the occasional guided visits.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of lighthouse is it?
A working coastal lighthouse-house.
Is the lighthouse still in service?
Yes, it is still in service and automated.
Can I visit the inside?
Only during occasional organised visits; the outside can be seen freely.
How high is it?
The current tower is about 15 m; the original 11 m tower was raised by 4 m.
Who uses the building today?
The SNSM, the sea rescue service, since 2009.
Where is it?
On Rue Claude et Rosy Gourio, in Pornic, near Noëveillard beach and the marina.
Stay in Pornic
Places to stay that are still available, with current prices, compared across the main booking platforms.
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Read in the journal
- City guideWhat to do in Pornic: the complete guideThe old harbour and the castle, the customs officers’ path, coves and fishing huts on stilts, the beaches of the Côte de Jade: what to do in Pornic and the Pays de Retz.
- 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
Nobody has reviewed this place yet.
Photograph: Julien Carnot · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons