French lighthouses – beautiful and vital
French lighthouses stand as spectacular testaments to the country’s seagoing past. Although many are now sadly disused, their style and cultural importance make them a must-see for anyone visiting France. France’s lighthouses are hidden historical treasures that hark back to a largely forgotten era of French rule . Scattered all round the French waterfront, the lighthouses – or phare as they are known in France – have braved the worst that the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean can throw at them for hundreds of years. These arresting buildings punctuate the horizon around the shore, forming a majestic network of beacons originally designed to secure the lives of French sailors and ensure the integrity of France’s shipping lanes. Some of the most majestic lighthouses are to be found in Brittany, and on the tiny Île D’Ouessant just off the mainland. A rugged, weather-beaten piece of land is only 5km by 8km long, it is home to a number of truly breathtaking historical lighthouses, both onshore and off. by intense currents and perilous outcrops of hidden rocks, the island has claimed many lives over the centuries, making its lighthouses of vital practical importance for shipping navigating through this dangerous area. The lighthouses themselves are some of the most impressive to be found anywhere in France. From the short, 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 amazing 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 building techniques were nowhere near as advanced as they are today. 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 Caen 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.
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