Old Ploumanac'h lighthouse, Lighthouse in Ploumanac'h, Brittany, France
The old Ploumanac'h lighthouse stands about 49 feet tall and is constructed entirely from pink granite, marking the entrance to the harbor along the Côte de Granit Rose in Brittany.
The original lighthouse was built in 1860 but was destroyed by German forces in 1944, and the current structure was completed in 1948 by architects Auffret and Hardion using local granite.
Known locally as phare de Mean Ruz, the lighthouse name derives from Breton language meaning red stone, reflecting the regional pink granite formations characteristic of this stretch of Brittany's coastline.
Visitors can view the lighthouse from coastal walking paths accessible from Perros-Guirec, crossing a small stone bridge to the rocky platform where the tower stands near the harbor entrance.
The lighthouse interior features colorful mosaics created by Isidore Odorico, a renowned early twentieth-century artist from Rennes whose decorative work contrasts with the rugged granite exterior walls of the tower.
Inception: 1846
GPS coordinates: 48.83749,-3.48335
Latest update: December 1, 2025 11:02
French lighthouses line approximately 3,400 miles (5,500 km) of coast, from the English Channel to the Mediterranean Sea. These maritime structures, built between the 17th and 20th centuries, occupy strategic locations on rocky promontories, islands, and sometimes in open sea. Constructed from granite, limestone, or masonry, they reflect changes in building techniques and the emphasis on maritime safety. Among the most notable are the Cordouan lighthouse, located offshore of the Gironde estuary and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Vierge island in Brittany, which, at 272 feet (82.5 meters), is the tallest stone tower in Europe. The Jument and Vieille lighthouses, situated off Ouessant and Raz de Sein, demonstrate the technical challenges of building at sea, while those at Cap Ferret, Calais, and Ploumanac'h serve as coastal landmarks for over a century. Most of these installations remain operational, and several are open to visitors, offering insights into their interior architecture and the living conditions of their keepers.
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