Phare du Plateau du Four, Lighthouse on Plateau du Four, Le Croisic, France.
The Phare du Plateau du Four is a stone lighthouse and classified historical monument located on a rocky reef off the coast of Le Croisic, in western France, standing 23 meters tall. Its exterior is painted with a spiral black and white striped pattern that runs from base to top.
The lighthouse was built between 1816 and 1821 under engineer Joseph Marie Rapatel and began operating in January 1822. In 1946, it was raised by 6 meters to improve its visibility for vessels crossing the Atlantic.
The lighthouse is visible from the shore and has long been part of daily life for the fishing communities of Le Croisic. Its black and white striped tower is a familiar sight to anyone who spends time along this stretch of coast.
The lighthouse stands on a reef that floods completely at high tide, so it is best observed from the shore rather than approached directly. During low tide and calm weather, it is clearly visible from the coast of Le Croisic.
At high tide, the base of the lighthouse disappears entirely underwater, making the tower appear to rise directly from the sea with no foundation visible. This effect shifts completely with each tide, so the same view from shore looks different depending on when you look.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
