Nividic Lighthouse

Nividic Lighthouse is a navigation structure on Ouessant Island built from reinforced concrete and brick, standing about 36 meters tall. The building rises from the rocky coast and overlooks the Iroise Sea to guide ships through these challenging waters.

Construction of this lighthouse started in 1912 but took a long time due to World War I, only finishing in 1936. The project shows how difficult it was to build anything on this remote coastline during that era.

This lighthouse forms part of Brittany's maritime identity and shows how deeply the sea shapes life on this island. It stands as a reminder of the seafaring traditions that have defined the community here for generations.

This lighthouse now operates automatically using solar power from photovoltaic panels installed in 1996. Access is limited since the structure remains active as a navigation aid and is not open to the public.

This structure was the world's first fully automatic unmanned lighthouse and revolutionized maritime safety at the time. This innovation set a new standard for automatic navigation aids that have since been copied around the world.

Location: Ouessant

Inception: 1936

Elevation above the sea: 32.7 m

Height: 35.55 m

Made from material: reinforced concrete, brick

GPS coordinates: 48.44564,-5.15091

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:43