Name and Location

Phare d'Eckmühl is a iconic lighthouse located on the Atlantic coast of Brittany, France. It stands above Pointe de Penmarc'h, guiding vessels through the Pointe du Raz approaches and marking the southern entrance to the Bay of Audierne.

Construction and History

The Phare d'Eckmühl was constructed between 1893 and 1897, with an inauguration date of April 17, 1897. The lighthouse was named in honor of Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout, Prince d'Eckmühl, whose daughter-in-law financed part of the project. It has been classified as a Monument Historique (France) since 2011.

Architecture and Materials

The Phare d'Eckmühl is an octagonal masonry tower with an internal spiral staircase. The base is made of locally quarried pink granite, while the shaft is constructed from grey granite. A cast-iron lantern room and balcony complete the structure. The tower stands 70 meters above its base, with a focal height (light) of 60 meters above mean sea level.

Light and Navigation

The original lens was a first-order Fresnel lens installed in 1897. Today, the lighthouse features an electrically powered rotating optic. The light characteristic is a flashing white every 5 seconds (Fl W 5 s). The range is approximately 23 nautical miles (42 km), with a light color of white and sequence of 0.1 second flash plus 4.9 seconds eclipse.

Accessibility and Visiting

The Phare d'Eckmühl is open from early April to late September, with typical opening hours of 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. Admission fees apply, with modest charges for adults (€4-6) and children (€2-4). Guided tours are available in high season, although these may be limited to French language. Visitors must climb at their own risk, as there is no elevator.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the gallery balcony, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the surrounding landscape. To the north and west lie jagged rocks of Pointe de Penmarc'h and the raz-de-Sein seas. To the south, one sees the entrance to the Bay of Audierne and the distant Pointe de la Torche. To the east, inland Brittany's farmland stretches out, with the village rooftops of Penmarch and the chapel of Saint-Pierre visible in the distance.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local legend says that at high tide, one can hear the "voices of wrecked sailors" in the tower's drafts. During World War II, the lighthouse was occupied, and the lantern dimmed to hinder Allied navigation. Last resident keepers departed in 1984, with their former logbooks preserved in town archives.

Technical and Operational Details

The Phare d'Eckmühl is managed by the French Marine Nationale – Service des Phares et Balises. The lighthouse has been fully automated since 1984, monitored remotely from Brest. No radar or AIS equipment is installed on-site; the lighthouse functions purely as a visual aid.

Further Information

• References:
• 1. Service des Phares et Balises, "Phare d'Eckmühl," Ministère de la Mer (ANFR), 2019.
• 2. "Phare d'Eckmühl," French Wikipedia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_d%27Eckm%C3%BChl
• 3. SHOM Nautical Chart 7380 – Baie d'Audierne (IGN/SHOM).
• 4. Monument Historique database, Base Mérimée (Ministère de la Culture).