Can anyone tell me if the lighthouses La Jument,Kereon,Ar-Men and La Vieille are visible from the west coast of France? If not do you know how to get to Ile D’Ouessant?
La Jument and Kereon are visible from the ferry that goes to Ouessant. Further, once you are on Ouessant, you can see La Jument quite clearly from the shore. I’m told that you can also see Kereon, but I didn’t spot it when I was there. I did see it from the ferry. Ouessant is too far from the mainland to let you see these lights. Forget about tours; all are automated now.
ArMen is about 12 miles west of Pointe du Raz, likely not visible aside from a dot. La Vieille is just west of Pointe du Raz, so it should be quite visible.
The ferry leaves from Brest and LeConquet (LeConquet is a stop along the way) run by Penn-ar-Bed (google them). Reservations advised. The ferry stops on the island of Molene also. It’s about 1.5hrs passage. Runs twice daily (once to, once from), perhaps more during the tourist season. There are many lights along the passage from Brest outward, and I recommend taking the ferry from there.
You can rent bicycles on the island, but the island is a bit hilly and I don’t recommend it unless you are already in good shape. I wasn’t and it nearly killed me. I was sore for several days afterwards. Rent a car, hire a cab. Too far to walk unless you’re planning to spend the night. Added bonus on Ouesant are the other lights there, and the French Lighthouse Museum. You can get out on the rocks to see Nivdic light, and the others (leStiff, Creac’h) are on dry land.
You should get Michelin map 230, France/Bretagne, 1cm:2km. It has enough detail to show the roads going to the lights as well as some detail of I’le d’Ouessant. I found a really good map of Ouessant at the Gare (train station) in Brest. It is published by the Institut Geographique National, http://www.ign.fr the map number is 0317 OT
If you’re really set on seeing these lights, you should hire a boat or helicopter.
March 29, 2004 at 2:55 pm
Haven’t visited most of these. Phare de la Vieille is (as mentioned above) easily visible and if the surf is up, you can get great pictures. If not, there are plenty of pictures available at the gift shop near the park entrance.
Phare de l’ÃŽle Vierge, the tallestlighthouse in France, is easily visible from shore. It’s northwest of Plouguerneau.
Also recommend the Michelin France Tourist and Motoring Atlas. It’s got almost any road you could want in it. It’s a spiral bound yellow book and comes in two sizes.
2 Comments On Lighthouses in France
Benny,
La Jument and Kereon are visible from the ferry that goes to Ouessant. Further, once you are on Ouessant, you can see La Jument quite clearly from the shore. I’m told that you can also see Kereon, but I didn’t spot it when I was there. I did see it from the ferry. Ouessant is too far from the mainland to let you see these lights. Forget about tours; all are automated now.
ArMen is about 12 miles west of Pointe du Raz, likely not visible aside from a dot. La Vieille is just west of Pointe du Raz, so it should be quite visible.
The ferry leaves from Brest and LeConquet (LeConquet is a stop along the way) run by Penn-ar-Bed (google them). Reservations advised. The ferry stops on the island of Molene also. It’s about 1.5hrs passage. Runs twice daily (once to, once from), perhaps more during the tourist season. There are many lights along the passage from Brest outward, and I recommend taking the ferry from there.
You can rent bicycles on the island, but the island is a bit hilly and I don’t recommend it unless you are already in good shape. I wasn’t and it nearly killed me. I was sore for several days afterwards. Rent a car, hire a cab. Too far to walk unless you’re planning to spend the night. Added bonus on Ouesant are the other lights there, and the French Lighthouse Museum. You can get out on the rocks to see Nivdic light, and the others (leStiff, Creac’h) are on dry land.
You should get Michelin map 230, France/Bretagne, 1cm:2km. It has enough detail to show the roads going to the lights as well as some detail of I’le d’Ouessant. I found a really good map of Ouessant at the Gare (train station) in Brest. It is published by the Institut Geographique National, http://www.ign.fr the map number is 0317 OT
There are MANY lighthouses in Brittany. Check: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/david.guyader/phares.htm
If you’re really set on seeing these lights, you should hire a boat or helicopter.
Haven’t visited most of these. Phare de la Vieille is (as mentioned above) easily visible and if the surf is up, you can get great pictures. If not, there are plenty of pictures available at the gift shop near the park entrance.
Phare de l’ÃŽle Vierge, the tallestlighthouse in France, is easily visible from shore. It’s northwest of Plouguerneau.
Also recommend the Michelin France Tourist and Motoring Atlas. It’s got almost any road you could want in it. It’s a spiral bound yellow book and comes in two sizes.