If we tend to associate the word far with Brittany, the word lighthouse is also part of its heritage. The coastline of Brittany invites you to look out to the horizon, with its high-perched edifices keeping watch over the sea. The Breton coast has the highest concentration of lighthouses in the world. More than 75% of France's lighthouses are found here**, with a record number in the Finistère department. Day or night, these vertiginous jewels are open to visitors who want a taste of Brittany's marine history. Several of the 20 lighthouses are listed as Historic Monuments, including the Pontusval lighthouse (Brignogan), the Île Vierge lighthouse (Plouguerneau), the Stiff and Créac'h lighthouses (Ouessant) and the Saint-Mathieu lighthouse (Plougonvelin). At the very top, you'll find a special atmosphere, an air of being at the end of the world. Over a three-day itinerary, you can discover these sentinels of the seas while enjoying exceptional panoramas, beaches and sea-scented walks.
Petit Minou lighthouse
- © P Meybruck / Shutterstock
Head for the Petit Minou lighthouse
🕑 Brest to the Petit Minou lighthouse: 20 minutes by car The Petit Minou lighthouse, at 26 metres high, is a must-see in the region. It marks the start of the Rade de Brest. Opposite it are the Crozon peninsula, Camaret-sur-Mer and the Minou beach, renowned as a surfing spot. To get to this little gem, you need to follow part of the coastal path, the GR34, the customs path.
the customs path leading to the Petit Minou lighthouse
- © olrat / ShutterstockDirection to Saint-Mathieu lighthouse
🕑 Petit Minou lighthouse to Saint-Mathieu lighthouse: 20 minutes by car
Plougonvelin is home to one of the best-known lighthouses, the Saint-Mathieu lighthouse. Climb the 163 steps to admire a magnificent 360° panorama of the Iroise Sea and the island of Molène in the distance. Built in 1835, the lighthouse emerges from the ruins of a former abbey that can be visited. This monument is completely mesmerising and authentic. Once again, you can take part of the GR34. This path takes you to the edge of the cliff, almost 20 metres high.
Saint-Mathieu lighthouse overlooking the Iroise Sea
- © Lukas Uher / ShutterstockLe Bistrot 1954: overlooking the Iroise Sea, where you can enjoy local produce in a friendly atmosphere.
La Crepe Dantel': traditional and very tasty crêpes.
A hike to the Kermorvan peninsula
🕑 Saint-Mathieu to the Kermorvan peninsula: 15 minutes by car
After lunch, we head to Conquet towards the Kermovan peninsula. Off we go for an hour's walk (there and back), with breathtaking views of the Kermorvan lighthouse. Standing 20 metres high, the lighthouse is just a few minutes from a beautiful cove of white sand and turquoise waters. A short path leads to the Blancs-Sablons beaches.
Corsen headland
🕑 The Kermorvan peninsula to the Trézien lighthouse: 15 minutes by car
Last stop of the day: the Trézien lighthouse. Unlike the others, this lighthouse stands on land. Standing 37 metres high, it watches over the entrance to the Chenal du Four. Just a few metres away, you'll find yourself at the most westerly point in France, the Pointe de Corsen. To get there, take the GR34 footpath. Hikers will find themselves in front of magnificent wild landscapes, coves and beaches, all surrounded by cliffs.
Glenn Café Portsall, ideal for a good burger - fresh produce, friendly atmosphere.
Still conquering the lighthouses of Brittany, the second day is dedicated to discovering the dunes around the Abers as far as Ile Vierge.
> A morning walk in the dunes
Just 5 minutes' drive from the hotel is the large beach of Tréompan, bordered by dunes in Ploudalmézeau. Ideal for an early-morning stroll and a breath of sea air before heading off to the lighthouses.
> Head for Aber Benoît
🕑 Ploudalmézeau to the outskirts of Aber: 15 minutes by car
Change of scenery! Arriving on the banks of the Aber Benoît at Saint-Pabu, you'll fall in love with this countryside stretching out towards the sea. There are a number of bucolic walks to be enjoyed: discover the Devil's Rock, stop off at the little kiosk on the shore; its wooded paths; its mouth towards the sea. For lunch, try the oysters matured in the gentle waters of the river, with a hint of hazelnut.
View of the spiral staircase inside the lighthouse, Virgin Island
- © Oligo22 / Shutterstock> Boarding towards the Île Vierge lighthouse
🕑 From Aber Benoît to l'île Vierge: 15 minutes by car
This is the highest lighthouse in Europe! The granite Île Vierge lighthouse stands 82.5 metres high. You don't have to be afraid of heights to climb the 365 steps up the spiral staircase! Its beam of light shines for more than 50 kilometres. To get to this giant guardian of the seas, you either have to go on foot when it's high tide or take a boat. From the Pointe du Castel Ac'h, you can board a Les Abers speedboat for a 5-minute crossing.
🍴 Where to eat?
Le Pot de Beurre: this restaurant serves traditional, gourmet cuisine with specialities such as Kig Ha Farz de Lotte. The restaurant is located inside the hotel le Libenter.
⭐ Where to stay
Hôtel le Libenter: nestling in the port of Aber Wrac'h in Landéda, this hotel offers comfortable, no-fuss rooms with an excellent breakfast served in the Le Pot de Beurre restaurant.
The last day of this lighthouse discovery tour is devoted to a hike along the coast, between dream beaches and lighthouses. You can start with a beautiful view of Aber Wrac'h from Beg An Toull, on Saint-Cava beach in Plouguerneau.
> Menez Ham, a magical paradise
🕑 Landéda to Menez Ham: 30 minutes by car
Located in the heart of the Côte des Légendes near Brest, the village of Meneham (Menez Ham in Breton) is home to a guardhouse built to watch over the coastline. A true reminder of bygone days, this fishing village is a hamlet where farmers harvested seaweed in the 19th century.
The scenery is breathtaking, with granite rocks and white sandy beaches. It's a great place to take photographs.
Pontusval lighthouse in Brittany
- © Bennekom / Shutterstock> Direction to Pontsuval lighthouse
🕑 Menez Ham to Pontsuval lighthouse: 10 minutes by car or 1 hour's walk
After a short stop at Meneham, we head for the last lighthouse on this route. From the guardhouse, you can take a footpath to the Pontsuval lighthouse or, if you don't have the time, you can take the car for a 10-minute drive. On foot, you'll be faced with beautiful coastal scenery of huge granite rocks and beaches with translucent water.
Batz Island
- © Vlasyuk Inna / ShutterstockThe Pontsuval lighthouse, located on the tip of Beg-Pol, is 14.5 metres high and stands 18.3 metres above sea level. The building was a relay between the Île Vierge lighthouse and the Île de Batz lighthouse. Inside, there are 56 steps up to the lantern with its three beams of white and red light. The lighthouse has been listed as a historic monument since 2016.
Le Bistrot des Légendes: this charming thatched stone restaurant serves authentic Meneham cuisine.
> Last stop in Brest
Return to Brest after a 45-minute drive from Meneham. This last stop will give you the chance to learn more about Brittany's marine heritage. Depending on what you fancy, you can visit the Musée National de la Marine, housed in a château, or the Capucins, the former mechanical workshops of the French Navy, which have become a multi-faceted cultural centre. You can also visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts to discover Brittany's collection of marine animals.
The itinerary ends on this cultural note.
