List of lighthouses in France

This is a list of lighthouses in France. It includes the French overseas territories.

Metropolitan France

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Name Image Water body Département Location &
coordinates
Year built Notes
Phare du Cap Leucate   Gulf of Lion Aude Cap Leucate
42°54′5″N 003°03′3″E / 42.90139°N 3.05083°E / 42.90139; 3.05083
1950
Planier Light   Gulf of Lion Bouches-du-Rhône Île du Planier (Planier island)
43°11′54.83″N 5°13′51.29″E / 43.1985639°N 5.2309139°E / 43.1985639; 5.2309139
1959 The first tower was built in this location in 1320 by Robert d'Anjou.
Giraglia   Ligurian Sea Haute-Corse Giraglia Island, north off Cap Corse 1848[1]
Héaux de Bréhat Lighthouse   Atlantic Ocean Côtes-d'Armor Île-de-Bréhat
48°54′30″N 3°5′15″W / 48.90833°N 3.08750°W / 48.90833; -3.08750
1840
Ploumanac'h Lighthouse   Atlantic Ocean Côtes-d'Armor Perros-Guirec
48°50′15″N 3°29′0″W / 48.83750°N 3.48333°W / 48.83750; -3.48333
1946 An older lighthouse dating from 1860 was destroyed in 1944 and replaced by the current structure.
Roches-Douvres Light   Atlantic Ocean Côtes-d'Armor Roches-Douvre reef between Île-de-Bréhat and Guernsey
49°6′18″N 2°48′50″W / 49.10500°N 2.81389°W / 49.10500; -2.81389
1954 At a height of 213 feet (65 m) it is the eleventh-tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world.[2]
Sept-Îles Lighthouse   Atlantic Ocean Côtes-d'Armor Perros-Guirec
48°52′43″N 3°29′24″W / 48.87861°N 3.49000°W / 48.87861; -3.49000
1854 The first lighthouse, a round tower, was illuminated in May 1835, and then replaced in 1854 by a square tower 16 ft (5 m) taller. Destroyed 4 August 1944, it was rebuilt in 1949 and relit in July 1952.
Triagoz Lighthouse   Atlantic Ocean Côtes-d'Armor Triagoz archipelago
48°52′17″N 3°38′47″W / 48.87139°N 3.64639°W / 48.87139; -3.64639
1864
Ar Men   Atlantic Ocean Finistère West of Île de Sein
48°3′0″N 4°59′54″W / 48.05000°N 4.99833°W / 48.05000; -4.99833
1881
Phare d'Eckmühl   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Penmarc'h
47°47′19.55″N 4°22′22.23″W / 47.7887639°N 4.3728417°W / 47.7887639; -4.3728417
1897 The current tower replaced an older lighthouse constructed in 1835.
La Vieille   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Raz de Sein
48°02′26″N 4°45′23″W / 48.04056°N 4.75639°W / 48.04056; -4.75639
1887
Phare du Créac'h   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Ushant island
48°27′34.23″N 5°7′45.4″W / 48.4595083°N 5.129278°W / 48.4595083; -5.129278
1863
Saint-Mathieu Lighthouse   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Pointe Saint-Mathieu
48°19′48″N 4°46′15″W / 48.33000°N 4.77083°W / 48.33000; -4.77083
1835 The lighthouse was classified as a monument historique on 23 May 2011.[3][4]
Île Vierge Lighthouse   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Île Vierge
48°38′19.9″N 4°34′03.0″W / 48.638861°N 4.567500°W / 48.638861; -4.567500
1902 The current tower replaced an older lighthouse from 1845. The island is open to the public from April to September, as is the lighthouse, by appointment.[5]
La Jument   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Off Ushant island
48°25′0″N 5°7′59″W / 48.41667°N 5.13306°W / 48.41667; -5.13306
1911 Jean Guichard's 1989 dramatic storm photo shots of the Jument Lighthouse became an instant hit and earned him the 2nd place in the 1991 World Press Photo award.[6]
Petit Minou Lighthouse   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Roadstead of Brest
48°20′12″N 4°36′51″W / 48.33667°N 4.61417°W / 48.33667; -4.61417
1848 Together with the Phare du Portzic, Petit Minou Lighthouse forms a range of lights into the roadstead.[7]
Phare du Portzic   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Roadstead of Brest
48°21′30″N 4°32′03″W / 48.35833°N 4.53417°W / 48.35833; -4.53417
1848 Together with the Petit Minou Lighthouse, Portzic Lighthouse forms a range of lights into the roadstead.[7]
Tourelle de la Plate   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Raz de Sein
48°2′21″N 4°45′35″W / 48.03917°N 4.75972°W / 48.03917; -4.75972
1910[7]
Phare de Tévennec   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Raz de Sein 1875[7]
Phare de Nividic   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Ouessant
48°26′44″N 5°09′03″W / 48.44556°N 5.15083°W / 48.44556; -5.15083
1936 At a longitude of 5°09.1' W, this is France's westernmost lighthouse.[8]
Phare de l'île aux Moutons [de; fr]   Atlantic Ocean Finistère On an islet 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) southeast of Bénodet 1879[7]
Phare de l'île Tristan [fr]   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Tristan Island off Douarnenez 1865[7]
Phare du Millier [de; fr]   Atlantic Ocean Finistère On a headland in the southern part of the Baie de Douarnenez[7] 1881
Phare des Pierres Noires [br; de; fr; it; lb]   Atlantic Ocean Finistère On an islet 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) west off Pointe Saint-Mathieu[8] 1872
Phare de Penfret [br; de; fr]   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Penfret, Glénan islands[7] 1837
Phare de Roscoff [de; fr]   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Roscoff 1917[8]
Phare de l'île de Batz [fr]   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Île de Batz 1836 The lighthouse replaced an earlier building from 1705.[8]
Phare de Pontusval [br; fr]   Atlantic Ocean Finistère 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) northwest of Brignogan-Plages[8] 1869
Phare du Four   Atlantic Ocean Finistère At the northern entrance to the Chenal du Four[8] 1874
Phare de Kéréon   Atlantic Ocean Finistère Situated on a rock called Men Tensel NW of Ile de Bannec
48°26'30"N 05°01'46"W
1916 The most beautiful[citation needed] lighthouse in France; nicknamed "The Palace" by its Light Keepers. The last manned offshore station in France, automated in 2004.
Phare de l'Espiguette   Gulf of Lion Gard Pointe de l'Espiguette
43°29′16″N 4°8′31″E / 43.48778°N 4.14194°E / 43.48778; 4.14194
1869
Cordouan Lighthouse   Bay of Biscay Gironde Gironde estuary
45°35′10.84″N 1°10′24.48″W / 45.5863444°N 1.1734667°W / 45.5863444; -1.1734667
1611 The original tower was raised to 68 metres (223 ft) in the late 18th century.
Phare de Gatteville   English Channel Manche Barfleur
49°41′47.12″N 1°15′57.29″W / 49.6964222°N 1.2659139°W / 49.6964222; -1.2659139
1774 At a height of 75 metres (246 ft) it is the third tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world.[2]
Goulphar Lighthouse   Bay of Biscay Morbihan Belle-Île-en-Mer
47°18′40″N 3°13′39″W / 47.31111°N 3.22750°W / 47.31111; -3.22750
1836[9]
Phare de La Teignouse [de; fr]   Bay of Biscay Morbihan Quiberon
47°27′27″N 3°2′45″W / 47.45750°N 3.04583°W / 47.45750; -3.04583
1845
Cap d'Antifer Lighthouse   English Channel Seine-Maritime La Poterie-Cap-d'Antifer
49°41′01″N 0°09′55″E / 49.6835°N 0.1654°E / 49.6835; 0.1654
1955
Dunkirk Lighthouse   English Channel Nord Near Dunkirk
51°02′56″N 02°21′51″E / 51.04889°N 2.36417°E / 51.04889; 2.36417
1843
Phare de Sainte Marie   Gulf of Lion Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Marseille harbour 1855 The lighthouse is now inactive.
Île d'Yeu Lighthouse   Bay of Biscay Vendée Île d'Yeu
46°43′03″N 2°22′56″W / 46.71750°N 2.38222°W / 46.71750; -2.38222
1950 The structure, designed by Maurice Durand, is the third serving the site; the original tower, constructed in 1830, was destroyed by German troops near the close of World War II.[10]
L'Armendèche Lighthouse   Bay of Biscay Vendée Les Sables-d'Olonne
46°29′23″N 01°48′17″W / 46.48972°N 1.80472°W / 46.48972; -1.80472
1968 The lighthouse was designed by Maurice Durand.
Pointe des Corbeaux Lighthouse   Bay of Biscay Vendée Île d'Yeu
46°41′24″N 2°17′06″W / 46.69000°N 2.28500°W / 46.69000; -2.28500
1950 The lighthouse was designed by Maurice Durand.
Pointe du Grouin du Cou Lighthouse   Bay of Biscay Vendée Pointe du Grouin du Cou
46°20′40″N 1°27′49″W / 46.34444°N 1.46361°W / 46.34444; -1.46361
1953 The lighthouse was designed by Maurice Durand.

French Overseas Departments and Territories

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French Southern and Antarctic Lands

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ (10 March 2015). "Lighthouses of Corsica". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b Rowlett, Russ. "The Tallest Lighthouses". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  3. ^ Base Mérimée: PA29000050, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  4. ^ "Classement au titre des monuments historiques de plusieurs phares ou anciens phares du littoral" [Classification of many lighthouses and old coast lighthouses as historic monuments] (in French). 22 November 2010. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Phare de l'île Vierge". Sécurité maritime – Les Phares et Balises (in French). Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Sea. 30 June 2006. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  6. ^ "1991 Photo Contest". World Press Photo. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Rowlett, Russ (30 March 2014). "Lighthouses of Brittany: Southern Finistère". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Rowlett, Russ (6 April 2014). "Lighthouses of France: Northern Finistère". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  9. ^ Rowlett, Russ (21 March 2014). "Lighthouses of France: Morbihan". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  10. ^ Rowlett, Russ (6 March 2014). "Lighthouses of France: La Vendée". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
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