Phare du Grand Léjon, Maritime lighthouse in Saint-Quay-Portrieux, France
The Phare du Grand Léjon is a lighthouse standing offshore from Saint-Quay-Portrieux on France's Atlantic coast. The stone tower has a cylindrical shape and sits about 9 nautical miles from shore in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc.
This lighthouse was built in two phases between 1859 and 1881, starting with a shorter tower that was later raised to its final height. Its completion in 1881 made it a vital navigation aid for ships passing through the region.
The lighthouse takes its name from the rocky shallows nearby and remains a familiar sight to local fishers and sailors navigating these waters. Visitors exploring the Bay of Saint-Brieuc recognize it quickly as a landmark woven into the region's seafaring identity.
The lighthouse sends out white and red flashes every 20 seconds, visible up to 18 nautical miles away to guide ships entering the bay. Since the structure sits far offshore, it is visible from land but typically offers no access for visitors to approach it closely.
During construction in 1860, a tragedy struck when a large wave capsized a work boat, killing several workers. This disaster led to important safety improvements and new protections for maritime workers on offshore projects.
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