Phare de Men Ruz
16 Chem. du Phare, 22700 Perros-Guirec, France
Name and Location
Phare de Men Ruz, also known as Phare de Ploumanac’h, is a small granite lighthouse located in Perros-Guirec, Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany, France. The address is 14–16 Chemin du Phare, with coordinates 48°50′14″ N, 3°29′00″ W.
Construction and History
Phare de Men Ruz was first lit on August 1, 1860, making it a mid-19th-century functional lighthouse. The construction start and completion dates are not recorded. During World War II, there is no documented damage or reconstruction in the available sources.
Architecture and Materials
The tower is cylindrical, made of unpainted pink granite, and stands 15 meters tall above its base. The lantern is set atop the tower, surrounded by a gallery with a simple wrought-iron railing. There is no surviving foundation or keeper’s dwelling on site.
Light and Navigation
The focal plane is 26 meters above mean sea level. The characteristic is an occulting group—3 + 1 flashes every 4 seconds. The light source is a modern electric lamp, automated and powered by solar panels and/or mains supply (standard equipment for French automated lighthouses).
Accessibility and Visiting
The site is open to the public free of charge via the coastal path (GR 34) from Perros-Guirec or Ploumanac’h village. However, the tower interior is closed to visitors, with no wheelchair access. The best viewpoints are from footpaths overlooking the headland.
Notable Views and Landscape
The surrounding landscape features rugged pink granite boulders sculpted by wind and waves, low maritime heathland, and tidal pools. Nearby attractions include the village of Ploumanac’h, GR 34 long-distance footpath, and Sept-Îles bird reserve.
Anecdotes and Folklore
Locals call this lighthouse "Tour-tan Men Ruz" (Breton for “red stone tower”), referring to the pink granite outcrops around Ploumanac’h. A local legend holds that on stormy nights sailors saw "dancing lanterns" as the light's red and white beams alternated across the waves.
Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse is an active aid to navigation, managed by Service des phares et balises (DGITM, Ministère de la Transition écologique et de la Cohésion des territoires).
Further Information
Details
| Name | Phare de Men Ruz |
|---|---|
| City | Perros-Guirec |
| Country | France |
| Coordinates | 48.8374965, -3.4833475 |
| Year of construction | 1860 |
| Stories | Local legend holds that on stormy nights sailors saw 'dancing lanterns' as the light's red and white beams alternated across the waves—an effect still much admired by photographers and painters. |
| Architectural style | mid-19th-century functional lighthouse |
| Construction material | "pink granite" |
| Focal height | 26 |
| Tower height | 15 |
| Access description | The site is open to the public free of charge via the coastal path (GR 34) from Perros-Guirec or Ploumanac'h village. |
| Accessible | true |
| View description | rugged pink granite boulders sculpted by wind and waves, low maritime heathland, tidal pools. |
| Guided tours | false |
| Facilities | parking, tourist information |
| Nearby attractions | ["Village of Ploumanac'h—historic port, old wash houses, coastal café-restaurants","GR 34 long-distance footpath ('Sentier des Douaniers') linking Perros-Guirec to Trébeurden","Sept-Îles bird reserve (offshore islands visible from the headland)"] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | "Occulting group—3 + 1 flashes every 4 s" |
| Light range | ["12 nmi","9 nmi"] |
| Automated | true |