National Society for the Heritage of Lighthouses and Beacons

The Société Nationale pour le Patrimoine des Phares et Balises (SNPB), known in English as the National Society for the Heritage of Lighthouses and Beacons, is a French non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, study, and public appreciation of France's lighthouse and beacon heritage. Founded on 2 November 2002 by Marc Pointud and a small group of supporters, the SNPB was created in response to growing concern over the neglect and disposal of historic maritime structures, particularly offshore lighthouses and their associated buildings. Its mission encompasses both tangible and intangible heritage: buildings, equipment, furniture, archives, and the memories and traditions of lighthouse keepers. The organization operates as a federation of heritage stakeholders and a advocacy group. It campaigns to keep lighthouses in public ownership, to ensure they remain accessible to the public, and to separate heritage management from maritime signaling operations. Over the years, the SNPB has intervened in numerous cases where lighthouse sites or their contents were threatened with sale, dismantling, or loss. Notable successes include the rescue of the Stiff lighthouse site on Ouessant, the withdrawal from sale of furniture from the Planier lighthouse, and the preservation of the Pilier lighthouse journal. Beyond advocacy, the SNPB engages in public outreach and educational activities. It has organized exhibitions, maritime heritage routes aboard tall ships, and artist residencies in offshore lighthouses. Its "Lumière sur Tévennec" campaign in 2016, during which founder Marc Pointud spent 69 days alone on the Tévennec lighthouse, brought national and international media attention to the cause. The SNPB also collaborates with the French Ministry of Justice on rehabilitation projects for young people under judicial protection, and with international lighthouse organizations such as the U.S. Lighthouse Society. The SNPB is a private, non-profit association. It does not sell commercial products; its "offerings" are heritage preservation actions, public events, publications, and advocacy. It operates primarily in France, with a focus on coastal and offshore lighthouses. Its work has been recognized with awards including the "Coup de Cœur" of the French Maritime Cluster in 2012 and the Victoire de la Bretagne for associative initiative in 2014. The organization continues to campaign for the protection of France's lighthouse heritage.

The Société Nationale pour le Patrimoine des Phares et Balises (SNPB) was founded on 2 November 2002 by Marc Pointud and a group of friends who shared his concern for France's lighthouse heritage. The organization was officially registered in the Journal Officiel on that date. From the outset, the SNPB attracted media attention for its campaigns to save lighthouses and beacons, and its membership grew rapidly. In 2003, the SNPB achieved its first major victory: it intervened to save the Stiff lighthouse site on Ouessant, which was slated for dismantling after the administration put the two former keeper's houses up for sale. The SNPB's action led to the houses being transferred to the Conservatoire du Littoral, which also became the delegated owner of the lighthouse. The site was restored and remains open to the public. That same year, the SNPB alerted authorities to the sale of furniture from the Planier lighthouse in Marseille, resulting in the items being withdrawn from sale. In 2004, the SNPB requested the safeguarding of all copies of the Pilier lighthouse journal (Noirmoutier), a handwritten daily record kept by keepers from the late 19th century to the present. In 2005, it launched a campaign to raise awareness about the state of offshore lighthouses, which was widely covered by the media. In 2006, in partnership with the Belem Foundation, it organized the first Route des Phares aboard the three-masted ship Belem, a successful program later repeated on the Belem and the tuna boat Biche. In 2007, it held its first exhibition of objects and memories from the daily life of offshore lighthouse keepers, attracting over 2,000 visitors. In 2008, to draw attention to the condition of offshore lighthouses, the SNPB organized a symbolic picnic on the platform of the Ar-Men lighthouse, with extensive media coverage that helped raise public awareness. In 2009, at the request of the Grenelle de la Mer, the SNPB submitted a report on lighthouse heritage, successfully advocating for it to be recognized as national maritime heritage to be preserved, kept public and visitable, and managed separately from maritime signaling. These provisions were enshrined in Article 103 of the Livre Bleu de la Mer. In 2010, the SNPB signed an agreement with the Ministry of Justice to allow young people under judicial protection to participate in rehabilitation work on lighthouse heritage. In 2011, it obtained the first authorization to occupy an offshore lighthouse for a 10-year period, aiming to restore the Tévennec lighthouse and establish an artist residency there. In 2012, its work was awarded the "Coup de Cœur" of the French Maritime Cluster. In 2013, it opened the case for saving the Roi Gradlon, the oldest French coastal buoy tender, which was eventually deposited at the Douarnenez floating museum. It also organized the first "Aqua Raid," a swim between the Ar-Men and Tévennec lighthouses. In 2014, the SNPB received the Victoire de la Bretagne for associative initiative and began a partnership with the U.S. Lighthouse Society, contributing to its magazine The Keeper's Log. In 2015, it launched "Lumière sur Tévennec" to organize the first prolonged solo stay on the lighthouse since 1910, but adverse sea conditions postponed the attempt. In 2016, the operation succeeded: SNPB president Marc Pointud spent 69 days alone on Tévennec from 29 February to 5 May, generating extensive national and international media coverage and making Tévennec a symbol of offshore lighthouse preservation. The lighthouse was presented at the Paris ocean conference at the invitation of Catherine Chabaud. In 2017, the partnership with the Ministry of Justice was renewed, and the artist residency at Tévennec continued, including a visit by YouTubers Mamytwink whose video about Tévennec was viewed over a million times. In 2018, the book "Lumière sur Tévennec. Les portes de l'enfer" was published. The SNPB continues its work to preserve France's lighthouse and beacon heritage.

• 2018

  Published book 'Lumière sur Tévennec. Les portes de l'enfer'.

• 2017

  Renewed partnership with Ministry of Justice; artist residency continued with Mamytwink video viewed over a million times.

• 2016

  Marc Pointud spent 69 days alone on Tévennec lighthouse from 29 February to 5 May; extensive media coverage.

• 2015

  Launched 'Lumière sur Tévennec' operation; adverse conditions postponed solo stay.

• 2014

  Received Victoire de la Bretagne for associative initiative; began partnership with U.S. Lighthouse Society.

• 2013

  Opened case to save the Roi Gradlon buoy tender; organized first Aqua Raid swim.

• 2012

  Awarded 'Coup de Cœur' by the French Maritime Cluster.

• 2011

  Obtained first authorization to occupy an offshore lighthouse (Tévennec) for 10 years.

• 2010

  Signed agreement with Ministry of Justice for youth rehabilitation on lighthouse heritage.

• 2009

  Submitted report to Grenelle de la Mer; lighthouse heritage recognized in Article 103 of the Livre Bleu de la Mer.

• 2008

  Symbolic picnic on the Ar-Men lighthouse platform to raise awareness.

• 2007

  First exhibition of objects and memories of offshore lighthouse keepers; over 2,000 visitors.

• 2006

  Organized first Route des Phares aboard the Belem with the Belem Foundation.

• 2005

  Launched awareness campaign on the state of offshore lighthouses.

• 2004

  Requested safeguarding of the Pilier lighthouse journal.

• 2003

  First major intervention: rescue of the Stiff lighthouse site on Ouessant; alert on sale of Planier lighthouse furniture.

• 2002

  SNPB founded by Marc Pointud and friends; registered in the Journal Officiel on 2 November.

Non-profit heritage advocacy organization focused on lighthouse and beacon preservation in France.

Product categories. Heritage preservation campaigns · Public exhibitions · Maritime heritage routes · Artist residencies · Publications

1. 1Société Nationale pour le Patrimoine des Phares et Balisespharesetbalises.org
2. 2Balises de notre histoire depuis 2002pharesetbalises.org
3. 3Wikidata: National Society for the Heritage of Lighthouses and Beaconswikidata.org
4. 4Wikipédia: Société Nationale pour le patrimoine des Phares et Balisesfr.wikipedia.org