Name and Location

The Phare de Bénodet is a mid-20th-century harbour light located at 7 Rue du Phare, 29950 Bénodet, France. It marks the entrance to the Odet estuary at Bénodet, Finistère (Brittany), France.

Construction and History

The present concrete tower was erected in the mid-20th century, replacing earlier aids to navigation established at the mouth of the Odet in the 19th century. No official "local nickname" is recorded in primary sources.

Architecture and Materials

The Phare de Bénodet features a modern, utilitarian harbour light design with a reinforced concrete tower and a cantilevered gallery. The daymark is a white tower with a single broad red horizontal band (approximately mid-height).

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse stands approximately 14 m above base, with a focal plane at c. 15 m above mean sea level. It has a modern sealed beacon (likely LED conversion in the 21st century) with a light characteristic of Fl(2) W 6 s (two white flashes every 6 seconds). The nominal range is about 8 nautical miles, and it is powered by mains electricity.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse can be reached on foot via the west-bank jetty ("jetée du Phare"), open at most states of the tide. Interior access is not permitted to the general public, but panoramic views over the Odet estuary, Bénodet beach, and the Gulf of Bénodet are available from outside.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surroundings offer sandy beaches, a casino, and Thalasso sea-water spa. Boat excursions upriver on the Odet (often marketed as the "River of Kings") are also available. The coastal cycling path (Vélodyssée) and coastal footpath (GR34) pass close by.

Anecdotes and Folklore

There are no widely published legends specific to the lighthouse itself, but the Odet estuary has inspired local artists (e.g., the Pont-Aven school) and occasional ship-wreck stories near the river bar.

Technical and Operational Details

The Phare de Bénodet is an active aid to navigation for vessels entering the Odet estuary and Bénodet harbour. It is managed by the Service des Phares et Balises (under the French Ministry of the Sea) and maintained locally by the Directorate of Maritime Affairs, Port of Brest sector.

Further Information

For further information, please refer to the French Wikipedia entry at https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_de_Bénodet, OpenStreetMap entry at https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/92538232, and the Service des Phares et Balises official site (general lighthouse information) at https://www.en.gouvernement.fr/ministry-of-the-sea.