The Lighthouse Route, Brittany

If you’ve been following us on Instagram, you’ll know we love a lighthouse.

We love the contrast between the stark white architecture against the bright blue sea. Turning their backs on the land behind them, looking out to the waves below.

If you’re interested in lighthouses like us, we recommend visiting Brittany to do the lighthouse route. Know as the “Land of Lighthouses”, the Brittany coastline has the largest concentration of lighthouses in the world.

Immerse yourself in the regional heritage and discover the jewels of Brittany which face the Iroise Sea. Past the rolling hills and sparkling coast (there’s plenty of it) tick off every photogenic lighthouse you find along the way. Either overlooking white sandy beaches or rocky cliff edges, these scenic lighthouses create the famous Brittany landscape overlooking the sea.

. . .

So below is all the information you need for your next visit to Brittany and the lighthouse trail.

LIGHTHOUSE ROUTE IN BRITTANY BRETAGNE — list of lighthouses

1.     Phare de Pontusval /Pontusval lighthouse
2.     Phare de Lanvaon / Lanvaon lighthouse
3.     Phare Ile Wrac’h / Wrac'h Island lighthouse
4.     Phare de l’Ile Vierge (the taller one)
5.     Phare de l’Ile Vierge (the shorter one)
6.     Phare du Four / The Four lighthouse
7.     Phare du Stiff / Stiff Lighthouse
8.     Phare du Créach / Créac'h Lighthouse
9.     Phare de Kéréon / Kéréon Lighthouse
10. Phare de Nividic / Nividic Lighthouse
11. Phare de La Jument / Jument Lighthouse
12. Phare de Trézien / Trézien lighthouse
13. Phare des Pierres Noires / Pierres Noires lighthouse
14. Phare de Kermorvan / Kermorvan lighthouse
15. Phare de Saint-Mathieu / St-Mathieu lighthouse
16. Phare de Lochrist / Lochrist lighthouse
17. Phare du Petit Minou / The Petit Minou lighthouse
18. Phare du Portzic / Portzic Lighthouse
19. Phare du Toulinguet / Toulinguet Lighthouse
20. Phare du Kador / Kador lighthouse

THE LIGHTHOUSE ROUTE

What is it?

The lighthouse route is a trail that combines the lighthouses of north-west Brittany along with the beautiful landscapes of the French countryside and coastline. Brittany alone accounts for more than 75% of the lighthouses in France, each with unique features and characteristics you can admire day or night.

You can find a map of the lighthouse route here.

Where is the Lighthouse Route?

The lighthouse route is in Brittany (or Bretagne in French), which is France’s northwesternmost region. Having over 1,700 miles (2,800km) of coastline, Brittany represents a third of France’s total! So this area is well known for its beaches and coastal experiences. From island boat trips inundated with wildlife to historical ruins endlessly battered by the waves.

Why you should do the Lighthouse Route?

There’s something we find so satisfying about having a set route to follow. Not necessarily being strict with the course, but allowing ourselves to wander and explore anything that takes our fancy, while still having a trail to use as guidelines. Almost like the famous North Coast 500 in Scotland or the Wild Atlantic Coastal Drive in Ireland, following a route makes it feel like something to achieve whilst there, rather than haphazardly exploring.

During our time in Brittany, we were blown away by how beautiful the coastline is. As the lighthouses weave away from the mainland, they’re surrounded by the whitest sand we’ve ever seen and crystal clear water.

Along with the lighthouses and Caribbean-like beaches, you can explore historical ruins, see wildlife, eat Michelin star cuisine, and visit a picturesque commune or city along the way.

Our favourite lighthouses to visit

Here are a few of our favourite lighthouses from the route.

The Petit Minou lighthouse // Located in Plouzané, this is one of the most photogenic lighthouses we’ve ever visited. The lighthouse can be reached by a winding stone bridge that arches over the white sand below. From the entrance, in both directions is a lovely coastal walk which runs parallel to the beach.

St-Mathieu lighthouse // This striking red and white lighthouse sits on steep cliffs overlooking the ruins of a former abbey. Once a Breton monastery, the abbey sits high on the edge of Pointe Saint-Mathieu. The ruins are lit up at night by the beam of the lighthouse which overlooks the rocky cliffs below. The combination of contrasting architecture so close to each other is striking.

Kermorvan lighthouse // This lighthouse sits tall on a rocky spur at the end of the Kermorvan peninsula in Le Conquet. The peninsula offers a scenic coastline walk including a secluded bay and historical ruins.

Here is our guide for “A WONDERFUL DAY OUT IN THE SEASIDE VILLAGE OF LE CONQUET” for more information on Kermorvan lighthouse and other places to visit nearby.

Trézien lighthouse // Located in the town of Plouarzel, the walkway to the lighthouse is lined with an abundance of colourful hydrangeas. The 182 stairs lead you to a panoramic view of the wild coast and the scatter of houses below.

Island lighthouses

If you want to feel the sea breeze in your hair then you can visit a lighthouse on an island.

Virgin Island // Virgin Island lighthouse (Île Vierge lighthouse) is one of the tallest lighthouses in Europe. The spiral staircase is made up of 365 steps and is lined with opal glass tiles. Take a boat trip to Virgin Island along with a cruise through the river Aber Wrac'h and Aber Benoît. You can book your trip from Port of Aber Wrac’h via this company.

Ushant Island // Six lighthouses can be found on and around the island of Ushant. This includes the most powerful lighthouse in Europe, the Créac’h lighthouse; which is visible from over 40 miles away! Ushant is the seventh biggest island in France by size and is the last land until America! Known for its unspoilt nature and wild coastline, the island is car-free.

Also on the island is the Lighthouse and Beacon Museum which is located at the foot of the mythical Créac'h lighthouse. Here you can learn about the history of lighthouses, the life of lighthouse guards and discover archaeological objects from previous shipwrecks.

You can visit the island of Ushant via boat from the city of Brest or Le Conquet.

Can you go inside the lighthouses?

Climbing the summits to reach the top of these historical monuments gives you exceptional panoramic views of the blue Iroise Sea surrounding you.

There are a number of lighthouses along the route that are available to enter. These are:

The lighthouse of the Virgin Island in Plouguerneau
The Saint Mathieu lighthouse in Plougonvelin
The Stiff lighthouse in Ouessant
The Trézien lighthouse in Plouarzel
The Petit Minou lighthouse in Plouzané
The Kermorvan lighthouse in Le Conquet

HOW TO PLAN YOUR WEEK

There is no right or wrong way how to do the lighthouse route.

We did the route in 5 days which was enough time to also enjoy the villages and beaches. We started our lighthouse journey in the fishing commune of Camaret-Sur-Mer and we finished it at the seaside resort of Roscoff.

Covering this small northwesternmost section of Brittany was where the majority of the lighthouses from the route were, including the ports for the boat trips to get to the islands to visit the ones out to sea.

Here is a rough guide we’d recommend on how to spend 5 days in Brittany to do the lighthouse route along with other scenic sights.

Other places to visit while on the route

While on the lighthouse route there are many other attractions and scenic landscapes to visit. Read our article “8 WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO ON THE BRITTANY COASTLINE” for a breakdown of other places to visit with links and photos.

When to do the Lighthouse Route

We’d recommend doing the lighthouse route in the summertime to experience the best weather so you can enjoy the beaches along the way.

During the months of June, July, August and September you’re most likely to experience good weather. The hottest month to visit is August with an average temperature of 18°C (64°F). But the temperatures can rise as high as 30°C. The months of August and September have the lowest rainfall and the warmest sea temperatures in case you want to take a dip!

The south coast generally gets the hottest. However, being the northwesternmost part of France, the weather can be cloudy and windy at any time of the year. During our trip in June, we had very hot weather. Considering this, most of the beaches were empty and we had them to ourselves! Not something you’d ever get to experience in England on a hot summer’s day!

We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Brittany! If you have any suggestions or have any questions please let us know in the comments below!
Our trip to Brittany was in partnership with the Brittany Tourism Board, where we went on assignment to explore Brittany’s lighthouse route, capturing the most beautiful spots and destinations along the way.