Name and Location

The Phare de la Pointe des Espagnols, also known simply as the "Espagnols Lighthouse", stands at the southern entrance to the Goulet de Brest on the Crozon peninsula (commune of Crozon, Finist��re, Brittany, France). The address is Pointe des Espagnols, 29160 Crozon, France. The coordinates are 48°18′35.5″ N, 4°30′03.1″ W (±15 m), and the Chart reference is SHOM n°7083 (entrée du Goulet de Brest).

Construction and History

The lighthouse was first lit on March 10, 1848. It was designed in the mid-19th century by the Service des Phares et Balises. The architect/engineer remains unknown, but the design is typical of L��once Reynaud's neoclassical approach. The tower is made of locally quarried grey granite and was built during the Second French Republic (1840s).

Architecture and Materials

The tower is a cylindrical structure with a gallery and domed lantern, whitewashed and featuring a red balcony rail. It stands 24.2 meters above base and approximately 57 meters above mean sea level. The attached buildings include a single-storey keeper's quarters, which are now vacant.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits a characteristic Fl(3) W 15 s (three white flashes every 15 seconds). Its range is 18 nautical miles (approximately 33 kilometers). The lens is a 1st order Fresnel (fixed lens upgraded to flashing mechanism in 1902). The light was fully automated in 1995 and remotely monitored.

Accessibility and Visiting

The tower interior is closed to the public, but visitors can access the grounds year-round via a short footpath from the D41 road. Parking is available near Pointe des Espagnols parking area. Facilities include picnic tables, informational panels on local military history, and panoramic views over the Raz de Camaret, Île Vierge lighthouse in the distance, and the ramparts of Fort des Espagnols (Vauban, 1693).

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape is part of the Parc naturel régional d’Armorique. Nearby attractions include Fort des Espagnols (17th c. Vauban fortification) and a coastal footpath GR34 that skirts the cliffs linking to Camaret-sur-Mer. The area features heathland and seabirds such as guillemots and cormorants.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The name "Phare de la Pointe des Espagnols" is said to originate from a 16th-century Spanish galleon that struck the rocks here, giving the point its name. Memoirs of former keepers note that during World War II, they maintained the light clandestinely under German occupation.

Technical and Operational Details

The managing authority is the Service des Phares et Balises (DIREN Bretagne). The function is an active coastal beacon guiding vessels into Brest harbour via the Goulet. There are no dedicated installations on site for AIS or radar; vessels report to Port of Brest VTS.

Further Information

• References:
• https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_de_la_Pointe_des_Espagnols">Wikipedia (French)
• Service des Phares et Balises, "Catalogue des phares de Bretagne" (2018)
• SHOM chart 7083 – Entrée du Goulet de Brest, 1:25 000 (2015)
• Henri Théophile, Les Phares de France, tome II (1984)