The lighthouses of France stand as imposing testaments to the nation’s seagoing history. Although many are now sadly abandoned, their architectural beauty and cultural importance make them a must-see for tourists in France. France’s lighthouses are little-known historical treasures that hark back to a largely forgotten era of Gallic supremacy . Scattered all round the French coast, the lighthouses – or phare as they are called in France – have braved the worst that the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean have to offer for hundreds of years. These dramatic buildings punctuate the horizon around the coastline, forming a marvellous network of signal lights originally designed to protect the lives of French sailors and ensure the integrity of France’s shipping lanes. Some of the most splendid lighthouses are to be found in Brittany, and on the tiny Île D’Ouessant just off the mainland. A rough, wind-battered area of land that’s only 5km by 8km long, it is home to a number of truly breathtaking historical lighthouses, both onshore and off. Fenced in by strong currents and dangerous outcrops of hidden rocks, the island has claimed many lives over the decades, making its lighthouses of critical practical importance for shipping navigation through this dangerous area. The lighthouses themselves are some of the most spectacular to be found anywhere in France. From the squat, square Phare de Kermorvan with its rugged stone edifice to the simple yet robust style of the Phare du Petit Minou, the Île D’Ouessant showcases some truly stunning feats of engineering and practical architecture. The lighthouses are even more spectacular when one considers that most were built in the early years of the nineteenth century, when construction 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 Calais channel ferry to the French mainland and travel to Brest in Brittany, where the twice daily ferry will take 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.
Tags: France | lighthouses | travel
