Stiff lighthouse, Historical lighthouse in Ouessant, France

Stiff lighthouse is a stone structure on Ouessant island consisting of two connected towers rising approximately 32 meters. The building stands on elevated ground about 92 meters above sea level and overlooks the surrounding waters.

Vauban decided in 1699 to build two adjoining truncated towers on the Stiff cliff, the island's highest point, one holding the stair and the other the keepers' quarters and coal store. The light was first lit in 1702 at a spot called Tombeau de Béhault and burned wood and coal only in winter. A Fresnel lens with 16 panels and mirrors was fitted in 1831, and the tower was electrified in 1957 and automated in 1993.

The two joined towers still carry the name Stiff, from the Breton word for the headland where Vauban built them. The smaller tower, which holds the staircase, is topped by a cupola, while the wider one carries the lantern. The lighthouse is open to visitors from the Easter holidays to the end of September, and after climbing 104 steps they reach a view over the Iroise Sea.

The light sends two red flashes every 20 seconds and remains a reliable landmark for ships in the waters around the island. Visitors should prepare for changeable weather and bring sturdy footwear and protective clothing.

In 1902 Camille Tissot tested a radio station from the Stiff lighthouse, reaching ships 80 km away; from 1904 to 1913 it linked with some 80 liners on a 600-metre wavelength. In June 1911 the station received the call sign O ---, one of France's first radio beacons, guiding ships into Brest.