Phare de Pontusval
2 Le Phare, 29890 Plounéour-Brignogan-plages, France
Name and Location
Phare de Pontusval, also known as Tour-tan Pontuzval, is a mid-19th-century coastal lighthouse located in Brignogan-Plages, Plounéour-Brignogan-plages, Finistère, Brittany, France. The exact address is 2 Le Phare, 29890 Plounéour-Brignogan-plages, France.
Construction and History
Phare de Pontusval was constructed in the 19th century, with a start date unknown but likely during the mid-C19 period. It has been inscribed as a historical monument since May 23, 2011 (Ref. PA29000070). The lighthouse guides vessels around the western tip of Brittany, an area known for frequent storms and hidden rocks.
Architecture and Materials
The Phare de Pontusval is a typical mid-19th-century French lighthouse, featuring a cylindrical tower with a gallery and lantern. The materials used are locally quarried granite block masonry and metal lantern housing. The tower's color is white (unpainted granite may appear light gray).
Light and Navigation
The Phare de Pontusval remains an active aid to navigation, fully automated since the late 20th century. Unfortunately, no information is available regarding the light characteristic, focal plane, or range.
Accessibility and Visiting
Visitors can access the site on foot, with the tower base accessible by car via the D27 coastal road from Brignogan-Plages. A small parking area is adjacent to the lighthouse. The GR34 (Sentier des Douaniers) passes within 100 meters of the tower, offering scenic views.
Notable Views and Landscape
Perched on pink granite cliffs overlooking a stretch of white-sand beach, Pontusval commands panoramic views of the Iroise Sea, nearby islets and reefs, and Île Vierge lighthouse to the north. The immediate environment is part of a protected littoral zone, with gorse-covered dunes and rich seabird colonies.
Anecdotes and Folklore
No well-documented legends are attached to Pontusval; local guides sometimes point out that "Pontusval" may derive from the Breton words for "Valley Bridge," as a now-eroded coastal gully once ran beneath the site.
Technical and Operational Details
The Phare de Pontusval is managed by the Ministère de la Culture (heritage operator "mhs") and likely maintained by the French Service des Phares et Balises under the Direction des Affaires Maritimes. The lighthouse has been fully automated since the late 20th century, with no resident keeper.
Further Information
- French Ministry of Culture database, Base Mérimée entry PA29000070
- "Les Phares de Bretagne," regional maritime heritage guide (in French)
- fr:Phare de Pontusval on French Wikipedia
- SHOM nautical chart series (Brittany west coast)
Details
| Name | Phare de Pontusval |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Country | France |
| Coordinates | 48.67787, -4.3463617 |
| Historic significance | guides vessels around the western tip of Brittany, an area of frequent storms and hidden rocks |
| Architectural style | typical mid-19th century French lighthouse—cylindrical tower with gallery and lantern |
| Construction material | "locally quarried granite block masonry; metal lantern housing" |
| Heritage status | true |
| Access description | site and tower base accessible on foot; interior of the tower is not open to visitors |
| Accessible | true |
| Landscape type | pink granite cliffs |
| View description | Perched on pink granite cliffs overlooking a stretch of white-sand beach, Pontusval commands panoramic views of the Iroise Sea, nearby islets and reefs, and—on clear days—Île Vierge lighthouse to the north. |
| Guided tours | false |
| Facilities | bench and interpretive plaque on site; no visitor center, toilets, or café |
| Nearby attractions | ["Brignogan-Plages: seaside resort with sandy beaches, water sports and a small port","GR34 coastal path: long-distance trail along Brittany’s shoreline","Île Vierge lighthouse (world’s tallest stone lighthouse) – 5 km to the north","Village of Plounéour-Brignogan: traditional Breton architecture and coastal cuisine"] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Automated | true |