Paon Lighthouse

Who this place suits

With family

9/10

As a couple

9/10

With friends

8/10

Solo

9/10

With a dog

7/10

Reduced mobility

5/10

These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.

About

The Paon lighthouse marks the northern tip of the Île de Bréhat, in a pink granite landscape that opens straight onto the Channel. Its name is said to come from “Pann” or “Penn”, meaning “end” in Breton. A first project was approved in 1855 and the first light was completed in 1860 to mark the dangerous passage of the Horaine plateau. The light then evolved with several optics and coloured sectors. In 1888, a keepers’ house was added to the turret. The lighthouse is associated with Marie-Perrine Durand, often cited as the first woman lighthouse keeper in France. Electrified in 1942, it was blown up by German troops on 4 August 1944, like the Rosédo. It was rebuilt between 1948 and 1952 with pink granite from Bréhat and Ploumanac’h. The current tower is about 9.5 metres tall, automated and not open to visitors. In 2026, a major project to restore the access path was completed in spring, to protect the heathland, organise bike parking and manage visitor flows. The municipality estimates that the lighthouse attracts about 60% of the island’s visitors, more than 150,000 visits a year. The Paon is therefore less an indoor visit than one of Bréhat’s great landscape destinations.

What you will see

• Status: not open to visitors; the outdoor site is freely accessible.
• Height: about 9.5 m.
• First light: 1860; rebuilt from 1948 to 1952.
• Materials: pink granite from Bréhat and Ploumanac’h.
• Role: marking the Horaine area; automated.
• History: 1855, approval of a first lighthouse project at the Pointe du Paon; 1860, first light completed, a fixed red light; 1880, a catadioptric system with red and white sectors; 1888, a keepers’ house added; 1895, a new fixed light with white, red and green sectors; 1942, electrification; 4 August 1944, destroyed by German troops; 1948 to 1952, the present tower is built; 2025 to May 2026, the access path is restored and reorganised.

Practical information

Getting there

Northern tip of the Île de Bréhat. On foot from the landing stage across the island, or by bike to the dedicated parking areas. The inside of the lighthouse is not open to visitors

Pets

Check the island’s seasonal rules and those of the natural areas. Keep your dog under control near birds and heathland

Accessibility

The natural site and the distance from the landing stage make access difficult for some people with reduced mobility. Ask about transport options on the island

Safety

The headland is exposed to wind and swell. Stay on the restored paths and do not climb down onto the rocks in heavy seas. Respect the vegetation protection areas

Best time

Morning or late in the day, in clear weather

Photography

The lighthouse is most spectacular framed with the pink granite rocks, the heathland and the sea. Low morning or late-day light gives the rocks a lot of relief

Nearby

The Rosédo lighthouse, the Saint-Michel chapel, the Birlot mill, the Bréhat citadel, the Verreries de Bréhat, Port-Clos

Frequently asked questions

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