Name and Location

The Cap Fréhel Lighthouse, also known as Phare du Cap Fréhel, is located at 1 Allée du Phare, 22240 Plévenon, Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany, France. The coordinates are 48°41′2″N, 2°19′7″W (48.684096, –2.3187625). You can find it on the map at https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=48.684096%2C-2.3187625.

2. Construction and History

The first lighthouse was built at Cap Fréhel in 1702 under Vauban's supervision, using a cylindrical stone tower with coal fire. The second tower was completed in 1846, made of granite and standing 27 meters high, with an oil lamp and Fresnel lens. During World War II, the second tower was sabotaged by German forces and later demolished. In 1950, the present tower was inaugurated, featuring electric lighting. Automation progressed from 1984 to 1991, marking the departure of the last keepers in 1991.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse's architecture features a conical "classic" design with a gallery and lantern, rising from a single-story keeper's cottage base. The structure is made of local pink granite masonry laid in ashlar courses, with a cast-iron lantern room. The tower stands 32 meters tall, with a focal plane 70 meters above mean sea level, featuring an internal staircase of 165 stone steps.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits one white flash every 7.5 seconds (Fl W 7.5 s) with a range of 22 nautical miles (approximately 40 kilometers). The light uses a third-order Fresnel lens installed after 1950, powered by mains electricity with an automatic electric lamp changer and built-in battery backup. Aids to navigation include a seamark type "light_major," radar reflector, and no AIS transponder reported.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is open to the public from Easter through late September (exact dates may vary by season). Hours typically run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with closure on Mondays outside July-August. Admission costs €4 for adults and €2.50 for children. Guided tours are available in French, with limited English-language materials available.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Fort la Latte to the north, the Emerald Coast, and on clear days, the Channel Islands from the cliff path. The site features heathland, gorse, and pink granite outcrops.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local legend tells of a ghostly keeper seen lighting fires on foggy nights, perhaps a reminiscence of the original coal-fired beacon. During World War II, German troops installed an observation post in the keeper's house; remains of concrete shelters can still be found in the heath.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is operated and maintained by the regional delegation of Phares et Balises under the Ministry of the Sea. Restoration work on masonry and lantern room takes place periodically. The site is listed in the Mérimée database (base Mérimée PA00092005).

9. Further Information

For more information, visit https://www.capfrehel.com or consult French Wikipedia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_du_Cap_Fr%C3%A9hel.