Banche Lighthouse

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Banche Lighthouse is a maritime building built between 1862 and 1865 on a rocky plateau off La Baule-Escoublac, in the Loire-Atlantique. Designed by the engineers Chatoney and Leferme, it replaces a first masonry turret erected in 1825 on the Turkish bench. Its truncated structure, granite and exposed stones, culminates at 30,30 meters with a focal point at 26,50 meters. It is characterized by black and white horizontal bands added in 1893 to distinguish it from other neighbouring lighthouses.

The construction of the lighthouse was a major logistical challenge, requiring a fleet of gabars, a steam sloop and canoes to transport materials from Saint-Nazaire, 24 km away. A 100-metre dyke and a railway were built to carry the stones, while the foundations were reinforced with Portland cement. Initially planned above, the lighthouse was reduced to 26.50 metres due to the instability of the bedrock.

The lighthouse underwent several technical changes: a fixed red light in 1865, replaced in 1896 by an occult fire, and in 1930 by a system of grouped bursts. Electrified and automated in 1986, it was the last inhabited lighthouse in Loire-Atlantique. A mermaid, installed in 1907 and removed in 1986, completed its equipment. His 1930 historical perspective is now on display in Nantes-Saint-Nazaire.

Ranked a historic monument in 2011, the lighthouse includes a smooth masonry tower, an octagonal lantern and a 107-metre access pier. Its interior, divided into three levels (store, kitchen, rooms), shows signs of degradation despite a well-preserved exterior. An aerogenator, added for power supply, partially alters its original bridge.

The Banche lighthouse embodies 19th century maritime engineering, marked by constant adaptations to technical progress. Its history also reflects the challenges of coastal signage, which is crucial for navigation in the Atlantic. Today, it remains a symbol of the industrial and maritime heritage of the Pays de la Loire.

Its rocky plateau, emerges only during the low seas, adds a unique geological dimension to this monument. The national archives retain plans dated 1905, demonstrating its importance in the history of French lighthouses.

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