Name and Location

The Phare des Poulains lighthouse stands at the tip of Pointe des Poulains on the northern coast of Belle-Île-en-Mer in Morbihan, Brittany, France. The official name is Phare des Poulains, while its Breton name is Tour-tan ar Polen, which translates to "Poulains' Tower". Its local nickname is "Pointe des Poulains Lighthouse".

2. Construction and History

The lighthouse was first lit in 1844 with a simple white tower. The present granite tower was constructed between 1867-1868 to improve its range and durability. The original tower's focal plane was approximately 38 meters above mean sea level, while the current tower's height is around 14 meters.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse has a cylindrical masonry tower with a cast-iron lantern room and slate roofing on the keeper's house. The materials used are locally quarried granite and cast iron. The tower is approximately 14 meters tall, while the keeper's house is a single-storey granite building with a gabled roof.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse's light characteristic is Fl(3) W 15 s (three white flashes every 15 seconds). Its nominal range is around 20 nautical miles. The focal plane is approximately 52 meters above mean sea level, which is the height of the tower atop a 38-meter cliff.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds and keeper's house are open daily from April to October. The lighthouse tower interior is closed for safety reasons, but visitors can view the lantern room from outside. There are small interpretive displays on local maritime history, shipwrecks, lighthouse technology, and the life of Sarah Bernhardt.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

From the cliff-top terrace beside the tower, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Pointe de Donnant and its wild surf to the west, Le Grand Charpentier archipelago to the north, the Promontoire des Poulains covered in gorse and heather, and sunsets over the storm-tossed Atlantic (weather permitting).

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

• Local legends speak of "les poulains" – a reference to ship's stern lanterns flickering in the mist – which sailors once mistook for pony-shaped lights dancing on the cliffs.
• The famous actress Sarah Bernhardt leased and then purchased the former keeper's dwelling, decorating it as a summer residence and hosting artists, writers, and actors.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was automated in the late 20th century (exact date c. 1980s-1990s). The managing authority is the Conservatoire du littoral, which owns the Pointe des Poulains, while day-to-day operations and visitor reception are handled by Centre des monuments nationaux.

9. Further Information

For further information, please consult the French Wikipedia article on Phare des Poulains, Base Mérimée (Ministry of Culture), SHOM maritime chart 7026 – Belle-Île-en-Mer, Centre des monuments nationaux visitor brochure "Phare des Poulains et domaine de Bernhardt", and "Sarah Bernhardt à Belle-Île" Musée de Sarah Bernhardt guidebook (ed. 2010).