Name and Location

The Phare du Kador, also known as Tour-tan ar Gador, is a small coastal lighthouse located at the end of Allée du Phare on the Crozon peninsula in Finistère, Brittany, France. The address is 3 Allée du Phare, 29160 Crozon, France.

Construction and History

The Phare du Kador was constructed in the mid-19th century, although the exact date is unknown. It stands at a height of approximately 8 meters above its base. The lighthouse was likely commissioned by Électricité de France or former Corps des Ponts-et-Chaussées.

Architecture and Materials

The Phare du Kador features a simple square masonry tower with integrated keepers' quarters at the base. The structure is made of local granite masonry, with a metal lantern room on top. The exterior finish is traditionally painted white, with the lantern room in a contrasting color, historically red.

Light and Navigation

The Phare du Kador serves as a navigational aid, marking the Kador shoals off Pointe du Guern and guiding small craft entering Crozon's rocky inlets. Its light range is approximately 8-10 nautical miles. The characteristic of the light is unspecified in public records, but it likely has an occulting or flashing white pattern with a period of around 5-10 seconds.

Accessibility and Visiting

The tower itself is not open to the public, but its platform and surrounding grounds are freely accessible on foot. Visitors can park at the end of Allée du Phare in Crozon-Ville and follow a short path to the headland. Nearby parking and coastal-path signage (GR34) provide easy pedestrian access.

Notable Views and Landscape

The Phare du Kador is situated on a rocky promontory with panoramic views of Pointe de Dinan to the north and Cap de la Chèvre to the west. The surroundings feature heathland, low scrub, granite outcrops, and tidal pools. Flora and fauna include typical maritime heath, seabirds (guillemots, cormorants), and walking trails connect to Camaret-sur-Mer and Morgat.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen speak of the "ghost light" on stormy nights when spray and lens reflections create fleeting apparitions. No major shipwrecks are recorded directly at Kador, but nearby shoals claimed vessels in the age of sail.

Technical and Operational Details

The Phare du Kador is a fully automated lighthouse with no resident keeper. Its technical characteristics include an estimated height of 8 meters above its base, a focal plane of approximately 23 meters above sea level (tower plus cliff height), and a light range of around 8-10 nautical miles.

Further Information

For more information on the Phare du Kador, visit Wikidata (Q3378315) or OpenStreetMap (https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/53990322).