Name and Location

Phare de Saint-Mathieu, also known as Tour-tan Lokmazhe in Breton, is a 19th-century coastal lighthouse located on Pointe Saint-Mathieu, Finistère, Brittany, France. The address is St Mathieu, 3 Rue des Moines, 29217 Plougonvelin, France. The coordinates are 48°19′47.54″ N, 4°46′15.21″ W (48.3298729, −4.7708916).

2. Construction and History

Phare de Saint-Mathieu was built in the 19th century on top of the ruins of the medieval Abbey of Saint-Mathieu de Fine-Terre. The lighthouse remains an active aid-to-navigation and a popular viewpoint for visitors.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a cylindrical masonry tower with a balcony and lantern, built using local stone. It stands 37 meters tall above ground level. The tower has been painted in contrasting tones, with a white exterior and a darker lantern.

4. Light and Navigation

Unfortunately, specific technical details about the light range, characteristic, and focal height are not publicly documented. However, the lighthouse remains an official aid to navigation under the French maritime authority.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The Pointe and abbey ruins are open to the public, but access to the tower interior is generally closed. Visitors can reach the site by road via Rue des Moines from Plougonvelin. Limited parking is available nearby, and footpaths link to the coastal GR34 trail.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse overlooks the Iroise Sea, Pointe du Raz, Île Vierge lighthouse to the north, and Ouessant Island on clear days. The surrounding landscape features rugged cliffs, heathland, and seabird colonies. Visitors can also explore the ruins of the Abbey of Saint-Mathieu de Fine-Terre, including a 6th-century chapel and tomb of Saint Mathieu.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Legends tell of Saint Matthew, apostle turned hermit, worshipping at this site in the early Middle Ages. Former keepers' logbooks (archived) recount storms of 1854 and numerous shipwreck rescues along this wild headland.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed as part of the national heritage by the Ministère de la Culture. It has been classified as a French Monument historique since September 26, 2005 (ref PA29000050).

9. Further Information

For more information, visit the official website at http://www.dirm.nord-atlantique-manche-ouest.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/phare-de-saint-mathieu-a98.html or consult local guidebooks on Brittany's lighthouses and the Iroise coastal trail.