France’s Lighthouses – Securing Safety on the Sea for Centuries

French lighthouses stand as dramatic testaments to the nation’s maritime heritage. Although many are now sadly in a state of disrepair, their style and historical significance make them a must-see for anyone visiting France.

France’s lighthouses are obscure historical treasures that hark back to a largely forgotten era of French seamanship . Dispersed along the French coastline, the lighthouses – or phare – have braved the worst that the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean can throw at them for hundreds of years.

These striking buildings punctuate the skyline around the coastline, forming a impressive network of guiding lights originally designed to safeguard the lives of French sailors and ensure the integrity of the nation’s shipping lanes.

Brittany is home to some of the most beautiful lighthouses, along with the Île D’Ouessant just off the mainland. A pitted, wind-battered piece of land is only 5km by 8km long, the island is houses a number of truly superb historical lighthouses, both onshore and off.

Fenced in by strong currents and perilous outcrops of hidden rocks, the island has claimed many lives over the decades, making its lighthouses of vital practical importance for shipping navigation through this dangerous area. The lighthouses on the island are some of the most magnificent to be found anywhere in France.

From the short, square Phare de Kermorvan with its rugged stone facing to the simple yet robust style of the Phare du Petit Minou, the Île D’Ouessant showcases some truly amazing feats of engineering and practical architecture.

The lighthouses are even more magnificant when one considers that most were built in the early years of the nineteenth century, when building techniques were nowhere near as advanced as they are now. The fact that these structures are still standing in the face of such severe weather conditions is a credit to the skill and tenacity of the men who built them.

Reaching the Île D’Ouessant is simple – just catch a Dunkirk channel ferry to France and make your way to Brest in Brittany, where the twice daily ferry will ship you over to the island for a very modest fee. Once there, you can explore the island on foot or by bike, taking in the unique sights of these commanding silent guards.

No related posts.