“A notable similarity”, was Hergé really inspired by the golden island in the Var for his comic strip “L’Ile Noire” with Tintin?

The Golden Island of Saint-Raphaël in the Var intrigues and fascinates with its history tinged with legends. Its famous tower is said to have inspired Hergé in particular for L’Ile Noire, his seventh volume of the adventures of Tintin. Myth or reality? We take stock on January 10, World Tintin Day!

“CWhat we are sure of is that Hergé came to the region and saw the Ile d’Or.”immediately sets out Renée Zucco, historian, specialist in Saint-Raphaël.

This is one of the rare certainties we have about this jewel of the Côte d’Azur. From the start, its story is told based on a legend.

“It is said that the man who had the tower built, Auguste Lutaud, won the island after a game of cards and a drunken bouillabaisse with a man called Léon Sergent. He was the first owner deprived of the island, when it was still just a pile of rocks”explains Renée Zucco.

This evening between the two men surely existed, but it was not by winning a simple game that Auguste Lutaud obtained the Golden Island. “The texts show that he bought it for 800 francs”underlines the historian.

Once the island is acquired, Auguste Lutaud has only one idea in mind: to build a tower there. Where does this obsession come from? Again, mystery.

“It’s probably due to his time in Tuscany. Over there, there is lots of cities with this type of tours like that which symbolize power and authority in the village. But we have no certitude…”notes Renée Zucco.

During the inauguration of the tower, Auguste Lutaud proclaimed himself ‘Auguste 1ᵉʳ, sovereign of the Golden Island

Renée Zucco, specialist in the history of Saint-Raphaël.

He had this square tower made of red stones built in 1909. “Long before Hergé came to the Côte d’Azur”insists the historian, without specifying the year in which the Belgian author would have set foot on the Mediterranean beaches.

“When we see the beauty of the Golden Island, we understand that someone might want to be inspired by it”slide Renee Zucco. The historian admits, believing that the Black Island of Hergé is the Golden Island of Saint-Raphaël pleases him. “But I’m aware that it’s an urban legend.”he emphasizes.

With his friend Antoine Bertani, however, he set out to prove the resemblance between the Raphaël island and that of Hergé, the scene of his seventh volume of the adventures of Tintin, published in 1937. The two men thus made a photo montage displayed at the Maison des Carriers, a small museum whose creation they initiated, in Saint-Raphaël.

“It cannot be denied that there is a notable similarity”judge Renee Zucco. With a laugh, he nevertheless puts his words into perspective: “the Bretons say that he was inspired by their Black Island, located in the bay of Morlaix; and the Scots also claim different of their islands as possible sources of influence… We all defend our piece of fat.”

Although the Golden Island may not have inspired Hergé, it has now caught the eye of artists today. As Pascal Borsotto, photographer, who likes to immortalize it at several moments of the day. “During sunsets and sunrises, that’s when it is even more beautiful”he specifies.

Originally from Saint-Raphaël, Pascal Borsotto does not hesitate to speak of this island as a “member of [sa] family”. “I see her all the time, she is magical”, he adds.

Virginie Menuet describes it rather as “mysterious”. RA lifelong Aphaëlois, the painter says he never tires of admiring it during his few walks in the surrounding area. Hours of watching her inspired a number of watercolors.

“I like the red color of its rock which is reflected in the sea. It’s magnificent and that’s what touches me”she assures.

For the painter, it is the legends which punctuate the history of the Golden Island, but also the fact that no one can visit it which gives it its mysterious air. “It contributes to its myth”she maintains.

From Léon Sergent and Auguste Lutaud,the island has indeed always remained in the private domain. And it almost fell into disuse.

Its tower suffered during the Second World War. It had been damaged by several bombings and the son Lutaud, the heir, had not managed to obtain the necessary funds to rehabilitate it.

It was François Bureau who was his savior. He had participated in the landing on August 15, 1944 on the beach of Dramont which faces the Ile d’Or and he then returned on vacation to these places. This is how he fell under the spell of the island and its tower.

The former soldier then bought it from the son of Auguste Lutaud, then he restored the tower.

To this day, the Golden Island still belongs to the family Office that maintains it; thus leaving passers-by with the frustration of not entering it, but the pleasure of admiring its beauty.