Sémaphore de la pointe Saint-Gildas

Semaphore, lighthouse or museum?

A strategic viewpoint over the ocean, this former lookout post, which became a semaphore in 1862 and then a lighthouse in 1954, has a modern museographic space where you can learn about its history, the development of maritime communications and the great shipwrecks in the Loire Estuary that have left their mark on people's memories.
The 12-metre-high semaphore mast in the semaphore's landscaped grounds will help you understand the communication and coastal surveillance techniques used in the 19th century.

Every year, a temporary exhibition is held at the semaphore: for 2025, the theme will soon be indicated here.

The museum area

A visit to the Semaphore is divided into several areas:

One or more temporary exhibitions, free of charge
A museum trail
A film presenting the semaphores and maritime buoyage in the Loire estuary
The job and life of lighthouse keepers
The Fresnel lens, the ingenious invention that equips most of the world's lighthouses
The 1st floor evokes the history of semaphores and communications at sea
The 2nd floor opens onto a terrace with a panoramic view of the Bay of Bourgneuf and the Loire estuary.




The Pointe Saint-Gildas semaphore is one of the many activities on offer in Préfailles, presented by the Destination Pornic Tourist Office.