Name and Location

Phare du Four is a 19th-century lighthouse located at the entrance to the port of Le Croisic on the Atlantic coast of Loire-Atlantique, in the Pays de la Loire region of western France. The address is Plus code 79X8+47, Le Croisic, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France, and its coordinates are 47.2977971 N, 2.6342573 W.

Construction and History

Phare du Four was built in the mid to late 19th century with a purpose to warn ships off the submerged Plateau du Four and mark the seaward approach to Le Croisic. The lighthouse is inscribed as a Monument historique (ref. PA44000050) on 3 October 2012 by the French Ministry of Culture.

Architecture and Materials

The Phare du Four features a cylindrical stone tower with a balcony and lantern, made from local granite, which is traditional for Breton lighthouses. The height of the tower is 33 m above its base. The lantern is likely painted white with red detailing, following a typical regional scheme.

Light and Navigation

The official FR ref. (ANFR) for Phare du Four is 1482575. However, no information is available about the light's characteristic, focal height, range, or pattern. The lighthouse is fully automated, but the date of automation retrofitting is unspecified.

Accessibility and Visiting

The Phare du Four is an automated and closed lighthouse, with no public access. Visitors can best view the tower from the harbour quays or nearby coastal paths.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape features a rugged granite coastline, tidal flats of the Four shoal, and views over the Gulf of Morbihan entrance and Pointe du Croisic peninsula. Nearby attractions include the port town of Le Croisic, the Parc naturel régional de Brière marshes, and coastal hiking along the Sentier des Douaniers (GR34).

Further Information

For further reading and online resources, visit French Wikipedia, Wikidata, ANFR database entry (ref. 1482575), or Base Mérimée (Monuments historiques) entry PA44000050.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by the Service des Phares et Balises / ANFR (French Lighthouses and Beacons Service). Routine inspections are conducted by regional maritime authorities.