See the French coast

Lighthouses in France stand as beautiful testaments to the country’s naval tradition. Although many are now sadly neglected, their beautiful style and design and historical significance make them a must-see for holidaymakers in France. French lighthouses are little-known historical treasures that hark back to a largely forgotten era of French seamanship . Guarding the French shoreline, the lighthouses – or phare – have stood up to the worst that the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean can throw at them for decades. These spectacular buildings punctuate the skyline around the shore, forming a formidable network of signal lights originally designed to secure the lives of French sailors and ensure the integrity of the country’s shipping lanes. Brittany is home to some of the most imposing lighthouses, along with the Île D’Ouessant just off the mainland. A craggy, wind-battered tranche of land is only 5km by 8km long, it is home to a number of truly magnificent historic lighthouses, both onshore and off. Surrounded by intense currents and treacherous outcrops of hidden rocks, the island has claimed many lives over the years, making its lighthouses of key practical importance for shipping control through this dangerous area. The lighthouses in Brittany are some of the most impressive to be found anywhere in France. From the small, square Phare de Kermorvan with its rugged stone balustrades to the simple yet robust sophistication of the Phare du Petit Minou, the Île D’Ouessant showcases some truly remarkable 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 design 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 Calais channel ferry to France and make your way to Brest in Brittany, where the twice a day 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 sentinels.