Phare de Penfret
P2CW+FR Fouesnant, France
Name and Location
Phare de Penfret (Breton: Tour-tan Kreñv Penfred) is a major sea-light located on the south-western tip of Île de Penfret, one of the islands in the Glénan archipelago off the coast of Fouesnant in Finistère, Brittany, France.
Construction and History
Commissioned in 1911, Phare de Penfret remains an active aid to navigation under the authority of the French “Service des Phares et Balises” and is equipped with modern AIS facilities. The lighthouse has been fully automated since the late 20th century, with no resident keepers.
Architecture and Materials
Phare de Penfret is a freestanding cylindrical masonry tower with a gallery and lantern. Originally rendered white, the tower stands at 33 meters above base and was built using solid masonry likely made of local granite. The lantern and gallery are in contrasting dark metal.
Light and Navigation
Phare de Penfret carries two distinct light signals to guide vessels around the archipelago’s reefs and shoals. The principal red flash has a range of 21 nautical miles, while the secondary quick white light has a range of 12 nautical miles. Both lights are fully automated.
Accessibility and Visiting
The island is open to visitors, but the tower itself is closed. Visitors can reach Penfret by passenger boat from Fouesnant harbor, weather permitting. Once ashore, the tower stands at the western end of Penfret, a short walk from the natural landing beach via marked paths.
Notable Views and Landscape
From the tower base, visitors can enjoy panoramic vistas of the Glénan lagoon – emerald shallows, submerged sandbanks – and on a clear day, the Breton mainland’s rugged coastline.
Technical and Operational Details
Phare de Penfret is equipped with modern AIS facilities and has an MMSI number of 992271014. The chart reference is D0922, and the ref. ANFR is 884132. The seamark type is light_major.
Further Information
- https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_de_Penfret">French Wikipedia
- https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=47.7211559&mlon=-3.9528752">OpenStreetMap
- ANFR (Agence Nationale des Fréquences) light data, 08/2019
- IGN Cadastre mapping (2010)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2084976">Wikidata: Q2084976
Details
| Name | Phare de Penfret |
|---|---|
| City | Fouesnant |
| Country | France |
| Coordinates | 47.7211559, -3.9528752 |
| Year of construction | 1911 |
| Events | notable events such as shipwrecks or rescues |
| Stories | shipwrecks or rescues |
| Architectural style | freestanding cylindrical masonry tower with gallery and lantern |
| Construction material | "solid masonry" |
| Focal height | 36 |
| Tower height | 33 |
| Heritage status | false |
| Access description | boat crossings from Fouesnant (ticketed excursion boats, weather permitting) |
| Accessible | true |
| View description | panoramic vistas of the Glénan lagoon—emerald shallows, submerged sandbanks—and on a clear day, the Breton mainland’s rugged coastline |
| Guided tours | false |
| Facilities | toilets, café, gift shop |
| Nearby attractions | ["beaches on Penfret, walking trails, bird-watching, snorkeling on reefs"] |
| AIS Radar | true |
| Light characteristic | "flashing red (Fl R) / quick white (Q W)" |
| Light range | [21,12] |
| Automated | true |