Name and Location

The Cayenne Lighthouse, also known as Phare de la Cayenne, is a small navigational beacon located on the left bank of the Doëlan estuary in the commune of Clohars-Carnoët, Finistère département, Brittany, France. Its address is 1213 Rue de Cayenne (D16), and it can be found at latitude/longitude 47.7718764, -3.6085707.

Construction and History

The Cayenne Lighthouse stands on a semi-rural, wooded coastline overlooking small fishing wharves and mooring pontoons. Its exact construction date is unknown, but it is believed to have been erected in the 19th or early 20th century. The lighthouse has not been officially listed as a Monument historique, but it is presumed to be under the jurisdiction of the French Service des phares et balises (Lights and Buoys Service) or local port authority.

Architecture and Materials

The Cayenne Lighthouse takes the form of a small square stone tower attached to a single-storey keeper's building. The tower base is constructed from locally quarried granite, while the lantern housing is made of painted metal. The exterior finish is whitewashed masonry with contrasting trim around windows and doors. The lighthouse's height is estimated to be 6-8 meters from base to gallery handrail, and its focal height is approximately 10 meters above mean sea level.

Light and Navigation

The Cayenne Lighthouse is thought to have a light range of less than 10 nautical miles, serving estuarine traffic only. Its light characteristic is unknown, but it likely features a standard rotating Fresnel lens or sealed-beam lamp. The lighthouse has been fully automated since the late 20th century, and no resident keeper is present.

Accessibility and Visiting

The Cayenne Lighthouse is open to public access, but visitors can only view the exterior of the structure from the roadside path. There are no facilities on site, but nearest services can be found in Doëlan village. Visitors can access the lighthouse by car via D16 or on foot along the GR34 coastal trail.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the base of the Cayenne Lighthouse, visitors enjoy a panoramic view upriver toward the port of Doëlan and seaward across the pink-granite islets that dot the entrance channel. At low tide, tidal flats stretch on either side, revealing mussel beds and mud channels.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishing families have shared stories of small craft running aground in fog before the light was automated. Former keepers' diaries (now lost) allegedly mention daily boat trips to supply coal and maintain the lamp.

Technical and Operational Details

The Cayenne Lighthouse is featured on SHOM charts of the Morbihan channel and southern Brittany coast, serving as a lateral mark for vessels entering the Doëlan River from the south. It does not have radar or AIS equipment installed.

Further Information

• For more information, visit the OpenStreetMap entry (https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/94535561) or the Clohars-Carnoët tourism office (https://www.clohars-carnoet.bzh).