Poulains lighthouse

The Poulains lighthouse is a cylindrical stone tower standing on a rocky outcrop northwest of Belle-Île-en-Mer, serving as a navigational marker for passing vessels. Its simple vertical structure rises from the rocky base and features a lantern room at the top designed for visibility across the water.

Built in 1867, the lighthouse was created to guide ships safely through treacherous waters in this region of Brittany. Over the following decades, it evolved from its original lighting system to newer technologies that improved its effectiveness and reliability.

The structure stands next to Villa des 5 Parties du Monde, where people gathered during the early 1900s for cultural events and social life on this remote island.

Access to the lighthouse depends on tidal conditions, as high tides can isolate or partially submerge the rocky island. Plan a visit during appropriate tide windows and check weather forecasts beforehand, since this exposed location is subject to sudden wind and wave changes.

The lighthouse was inhabited by keepers and their families who maintained the light for passing ships while living in isolation on this rocky outcrop. Today, the structure stands abandoned by inhabitants but continues its watch over the waters, a reminder of the solitary lives once lived here.