Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Ile d'Aix lighthouse, located in Charente-Maritime, consists of two 13-metre-high twin towers built of stone and granite. The first tower, erected in 1840-1841 according to the plans of A. Garnier, replaced a carpentry lighthouse lit in 1821. This first white fixed light was modernized in 1889 to become a flashing light, requiring the addition of a second round with a red screen to signal Boyard's shoals and Antioche rocks.

The optical system, installed in 1889, uses four retro-reflective panels and a melting mercury tank, powered by an electric motor. The East Tower, operational since 1889, emits the main light, while the West Tower, equipped with a red plexiglass screen since 1906, generates a 15° red sector to warn ships. This rare twin tower device, automated in 1975 and remotely controlled from La Pallice, remains functional with a range of 35 km.

The lighthouse was guarded until 1994, when it was fully automated. Jacqueline Cochard, last guardian from 1983 to 1994, succeeded Louis Adrien Simonneau, who served from 1953 to 1980. The latter, a former prisoner of war and sailor during the Second World War, met historical figures such as Ahmed Ben Bella, detained at Fort Liédot between 1959 and 1961, as well as the team of the film Les Adventureurs shot on the island in 1966. The lighthouse, nicknamed "The Giants of the Island", has been listed as historic monuments since 2011.

The island of Aix, rich in military heritage, also houses Fort Boyard and Fort Liédot. The lighthouse, although not open to the public, benefits from a light plan designed to highlight its architecture and historical role. The two towers, identical by their cylindrical structure and their bare basket capital, symbolize the ingenuity of 19th century maritime techniques to secure navigation in this strategic area of the Atlantic.

The archives keep a plan of the fanal dating back to 1839 (cote CP/F/14/17510/3 at the National Archives), showing the first luminous installations on the island. The current lighthouse, with its bronze and iron lantern surmounted by a copper dome, illustrates the technological evolution of marine lights, from a fixed system to an electric rotary mechanism. Its history also reflects the geopolitical issues of the region, between maritime surveillance and political detention.

Today, the Aix Island Lighthouse, although dehumanized by automation, remains an essential landmark for navigation and a unique architectural testimony. His inscription as a historical monument in 2011 underscores his heritage importance, while the stories of former guardians, such as those of Louis Adrien Simonneau, enrich his collective memory.

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