Lighthouse
La Vieille Lighthouse
Pointe du Raz · Finistère
A 27 m lighthouse at sea built from 1882 to 1887 on Gorlebella, with 120 steps, a sector light and one of the most famous keeper histories in France.
- Suggested time
- 30 to 60 minutes from the Pointe du Raz viewpoints.
- Type of place
- Lighthouse
- Atmosphere
- Legendary, dramatic and entirely maritime.
- Getting there
- A lighthouse at sea, not open to visitors. Seen from the Pointe du Raz or on a supervised boat trip.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 7/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 10/10
- Solo
- 9/10
- With a dog
- 5/10
- Reduced mobility
- 6/10
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
La Vieille lighthouse was built between 1882 and 1887 on the Gorlebella rock in the Raz de Sein. Its square silhouette, with a round half-tower holding the staircase, gives it an almost medieval look. The light was first lit on 15 September 1887. The lighthouse has about 120 steps and is about 27 m tall. Its white, red and green sector light shows three occultations every 12 seconds. Automated in November 1995, it is listed as a historic monument and cannot be visited.
What you will see
- Location: Plogoff, Raz de Sein.
- Visit: not open to visitors.
- Height: about 27 m.
- Steps: about 120.
- Range: about 17 to 18 nautical miles in the white sector, less in the coloured sectors.
- Light: three occultations, two plus one, every 12 seconds, white, red and green depending on the sector.
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- Construction: 1882 to 1887; in service on 15 September 1887; automated on 14 November 1995.
- Heritage: listed as a historic monument.
- Prices 2026: free viewing from the Pointe du Raz.
- Children: yes, from the laid-out site at the Pointe du Raz.
- History: the lighthouse replaced the lights of the Pointe du Raz and became one of the last French lighthouses to be automated.
- The square tower is attached to a round half-tower holding the staircase.
- The Temperley crane used for relieving keepers was swept away by a storm in 2008; work to make access safer began in 2011, and waterproofing and floor work was carried out in 2013.
- The lighthouse was evacuated in January 1944 and relit in June 1945.
- It was connected to the electricity supply of the Île de Sein in the early 1990s, and its automation in 1995 ended a long history of keepers.
Practical information
- Public transport
- By road, or seasonal shuttles to the Pointe du Raz
- Services
- The Maison de Site and seasonal services at the Pointe du Raz
- Opening
- No access inside
- Parking
- Grand Site de la Pointe du Raz car park, with charges depending on the season.
- Pets
- According to the Grand Site rules
- Accessibility
- Can be seen from the accessible areas of the Grand Site
- Pushchair
- Partly possible on the laid-out paths
- Safety
- Watch from the secure paths and do not go near the edge
- Best time
- Late in the day, or in clear weather with good visibility over the Raz
- Photography
- One of the most famous views on the Breton coast
- Ideal for
- Photographers, families from the coast, lighthouse lovers, maritime history
- Nearby
- The Pointe du Raz, La Plate, the Baie des Trépassés, the Pointe du Van, the Île de Sein
Tips on the spot
- Check the visit status on the day before you travel, and do not confuse access to the site, the foot of the lighthouse and the inside of the tower.
- For a lighthouse open to visitors, check the time of the last climb, not just the closing time.
- For a lighthouse at sea, only watch it from a boat run by a professional or from a safe viewpoint on land.
- Bring a windproof layer, even in summer; stairs and galleries can be slippery with rain or spray.
- With children, check the number of steps and any minimum age; with vertigo, the climb to the gallery is not for everyone.
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- Working lighthouses are maritime safety equipment: respect all restricted technical areas.
- For photos, use a wide angle at the foot of the lighthouse and a telephoto lens for lighthouses seen from a distance.
- On an island, check the last boat back before starting the visit.
- On cliffs, stay behind the barriers and on the paths; keep dogs on a lead in nature reserves.
- Visits can be cancelled at the last minute for safety reasons.
- From the Pointe du Raz, stay on the waymarked paths.
- To frame La Vieille and La Plate together, use a medium or long telephoto lens.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of lighthouse is it?
A lighthouse at sea.
Is the lighthouse still in service?
Yes, it is an automated working lighthouse.
How tall is it?
About 27 m.
How many steps are there?
About 120.
What is its light range?
About 17 to 18 nautical miles in the white sector, less in the coloured sectors.
What is the light’s rhythm?
Three occultations, two plus one, every 12 seconds.
Stay in Pointe du Raz
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Read in the journal
- DepartmentWhat to do in FinistèreThe tip of Brittany, from the Pays des Abers to the Bay of Concarneau: lighthouses, coves and towns of character.
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- SeasonWhat to do in Finistère during the All Saints’ holidaysThe Pointe du Raz, Océanopolis, the Huelgoat forest, spring tides and the legends of the Monts d’Arrée: our ideas for All Saints’ 2026 in Finistère.
Traveller reviews
Nobody has reviewed this place yet.
Photographs: PtrQs · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Fanfwah · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons