Phare de la Pointe des Chats, Maritime navigation lighthouse at Pointe des Chats in Groix, France
Phare de la Pointe des Chats is a square stone tower standing about 16 meters above sea level, topped with a metallic lantern that guides ships at night. The structure sits on a rocky headland at the southeastern tip of the island and commands views across the surrounding waters.
This tower was built in the 1890s to warn ships on one of the busiest shipping routes along the Breton coast. The site had been used for maritime safety before and shows different phases of coastal protection through time.
The lighthouse marks an important lookout point on the island and represents how much the sea has shaped local life over centuries. Visitors can see how this structure remains a reference point in the daily relationship between islanders and the ocean.
The lighthouse is visible from outside and easy to reach by walking to the headland. The rocky surroundings can be slippery when wet or windy, so sturdy shoes are recommended for visiting.
The foundation of this tower contains remains of older fortifications and earlier signal structures, revealing the long history of this strategic coastal location. These layered structures make the site an archaeological record of how maritime safety evolved.
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