Old Île Vierge lighthouse, Historic lighthouse in Plouguerneau, France.
The Old Île Vierge lighthouse is a stone-built tower that rises from a rocky island off the Brittany coast, serving as a navigational aid for ships traveling along these exposed Atlantic waters.
Construction of the first Île Vierge lighthouse lasted three years and it was lit for the first time on 15 August 1845. It was decommissioned in 1902 when the second lighthouse replaced it. Together with the lighthouses of Wrac'h and Plouguerneau, it marks the mouth of the Aber-Wrac'h river.
Designated as a historic monument in 2011, the lighthouse represents an important chapter in Brittany's maritime heritage and remains a recognizable landmark along the region's rugged coastline.
Access to the island requires a boat trip from nearby Plouguerneau or other local ports, and visits are typically organized during warmer months when sea conditions allow safe landing on the rocky shores.
The tower stands in the eastern sector of Île Vierge and is 33 metres tall, painted white. Local stone was used for the build, with sand brought from quarries on the nearby mainland. Its light reached 14 nautical miles and, together with the lighthouses of Wrac'h and Plouguerneau, marks the mouth of the Aber-Wrac'h river.
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