Kerjean Lighthouse
10 Rte de Kerjean, 22700 Louannec, France
Name and Location
Kerjean Lighthouse, also known as Phare de Kerjean in French and Keryann in Breton, is an active coastal lighthouse located on the north-western tip of Brittany, France. The address is 10 Route de Kerjean, 22700 Louannec, Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany, France. The coordinates are 48°47′47�� N, 3°23′24″ W.
Construction and History
The exact date and architect of the lighthouse's construction are not documented. However, it is known to be a traditional stone structure built using masonry materials.
Architecture and Materials
The tower takes the form of a cylindrical masonry tower with a lantern removed (the light is mounted on a supporting structure). The exterior features horizontal bands in alternating black and white colors. The tower stands 16 meters above ground, while the focal plane is 78 meters above mean sea level.
Light and Navigation
Kerjean displays an occulting light pattern in three colored sectors: green (bearing 133.7°–143.2°), white (bearing 143.2°–144.8°), and red (bearing 144.8°–154.3°). The range for each sector is 10 nautical miles for the green sector, 8 nautical miles for the white and red sectors. The light characteristic is Oc(2+1) 12s.
Accessibility and Visiting
The tower itself is closed to visitors, but the surrounding coastal paths are open year-round. Visitors can access the headland via Route de Kerjean from Louannec, with roadside parking and way-marked walking trails available. Panoramic vistas of the English Channel and the pink granite coast offer ideal opportunities for photography.
Notable Views and Landscape
The lighthouse is situated near the GR34 (Sentier des Douaniers) coastal walking trail, which passes within 200 meters of the tower. Beaches in Louannec and Perros-Guirec are located within a 3-kilometer radius, providing opportunities for bird-watching on tidal islets and rocky outcrops.
Anecdotes and Folklore
Local oral tradition occasionally recalls heroic rescues of small-boat fishermen in the late 19th century, but details remain unverified.
Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse remains fully operational and charted, appearing on French nautical charts (SHOM series), Admiralty Chart A 1770, and NGA list 114-7820. It is maintained under the national lighthouse and beacon service (Service des Phares et Balises) of French maritime authorities.
Further Information
For further information, consult the Wikidata entry at https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q33205806, the Wikimedia Commons gallery at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Feu_de_Kerjean, SHOM nautical chart series for Côtes-d’Armor, and regional maritime heritage publications ("Les Phares de Bretagne").
Details
Name | Kerjean Lighthouse |
---|---|
City | Louannec |
Country | France |
Coordinates | 48.7964619, -3.389934 |
Stories | Local oral tradition occasionally recalls heroic rescues of small-boat fishermen in the late 19th century, but details remain unverified. |
Architectural style | Masonry |
Construction material | Masonry (traditional stone) |
Focal height | 78 |
Tower height | 16 |
Access description | Access by road: Via Route de Kerjean from Louannec; roadside parking and way-marked walking trails to the headland. |
Accessible | true |
Parking | true |
View description | Panoramic vistas over the English Channel and the pink granite coast. |
Guided tours | false |
Facilities | Toilets, Café, Gift shop |
Opening hours | {"headland and surrounding coastal paths":"Year-round"} |
Nearby attractions | Beaches of Louannec and Perros-Guirec, Coastal walking trail GR34 (Sentier des Douaniers), Tidal islets and rocky outcrops |
AIS Radar | false |
Light characteristic | Oc(2+1) 12s |
Light range | {"green":10,"white":8,"red":8} |
Automated | true |