Name and Location

Montserrat Lighthouse is situated in Rue du Phare, Clohars-Carnoët, Finistère, Brittany, France. The coordinates are Latitude 47.7747029, Longitude -3.6075268.

Construction and History

The exact construction date of the Montserrat Lighthouse is unknown, but it likely dates back to the late 19th or early 20th century. It is believed to have been built as a minor navigation aid for over a century. No original plans or inauguration records have been found.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse structure is a single cylindrical tower adjacent to a small keeper's dwelling, now private property. The materials used are plain rendered masonry (likely local granite rubble with lime mortar), painted white. The height of the tower is approximately 6-8 meters above base level, with a focal plane estimated around 15 meters above sea level.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse appears to serve as a local harbor light rather than a major coastal beacon. Details such as light characteristic, range, and automation date are unrecorded in the French "List of Lights." There is no known AIS or radar installation on-site.

Accessibility and Visiting

Montserrat Lighthouse is not generally open to the public. The tower and former keeper's house are on private land, though the exterior can be viewed from Rue du Phare and a coastal footpath that runs past the site. Visitors may reach Clohars-Carnoët via the D784 road from Quimperlé; local buses connect with Quimperlé railway station.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the foot of the lighthouse bluff, one looks west across tidal flats and scattered rocks toward Pointe de Trévignon and the Pointe du Raz on clear days. To the east lies the wooded valley of the River Belon, famous for its oyster beds. Coastal walking trails connect the site with nearby beaches (Port-Launay, Kerfany-les-Pins) and the hamlet of Lann-Franou.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The name "Montserrat" is unusual in Brittany and may reflect 19th-century romantic or religious influences. Local shellfish farmers still harvest Belon oysters in the estuary directly below the lighthouse. Folklore relating to shipwrecks in the bay of Aiguillon occasionally mentions a "small white tower" guiding mariners to safer channels.

Technical and Operational Details

The managing authority is presumed under the jurisdiction of the French Service des Phares et Balises (Lighthouse and Beacon Service), though it may have been transferred to the commune. Automation likely occurred in the mid-20th century. There are no public facilities onsite, as the keeper's quarters are now a private residence.

Further Information

Further information can be found on OpenStreetMap (node "way/94535187" – Montserrat lighthouse), the French Service des Phares et Balises official lighthouse list, and the Clohars-Carnoët municipal website (for local coastal trails and oyster-farm visits).