Lighthouse
Bas-Sablons Lighthouse
Saint-Malo · Ille-et-Vilaine
A 19.50 m square tower in the heart of Saint-Servan, with a fixed green light visible for 20 miles, the front light of the leading line with La Balue.
- Suggested time
- 30 min to 1 h 30, depending on your walk around Saint-Servan.
- Type of place
- Harbour lighthouse and leading light
- Atmosphere
- Harbourside, urban, accessible and maritime.
- Getting there
- Saint-Servan, Saint-Malo, at the Bas-Sablons. Seen from the streets, the promenade and the marina. No visit inside.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 7/10
- As a couple
- 8/10
- With friends
- 8/10
- Solo
- 9/10
- With a dog
- 7/10
- Reduced mobility
- 7/10
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 Bas-Sablons lighthouse is so embedded in the town that you could almost forget it is a working navigation light. The first square tower, eight metres high, was built in 1868. By 1877, the growth of the town and the lights of Saint-Servan made the light harder to see, so the tower was raised by 6.50 metres. After a first electrification attempt in 1911, the light became electric in 1912. It escaped planned destruction in 1944 and took on its current role as a fixed green directional light in 1948. The DIRM now gives a height of 19.50 metres and a range of 20 miles. The lighthouse is the front light of the leading line with La Balue for the inner channel of the port of Saint-Malo. It also serves as a landmark for the marina and was fully repainted in 2020. Closed to visitors and remotely controlled, it is nevertheless one of the easiest lighthouses to include in a walk: the Bas-Sablons harbour, Saint-Servan, the Tour Solidor and the Cité d’Alet make it a real way to read Saint-Malo’s harbour landscape.
What you will see
- Status: not open to visitors.
- Height: 19.50 m.
- Light: fixed green directional light.
- Range: 20 miles.
- Lamp: 70 W.
- Role: front light of the leading line with La Balue for the inner channel.
Show 9 more pointsHide
- Remote control: Phares et Balises station in Saint-Malo.
- 1868: a first eight-metre square tower is built.
- 1877: raised by 6.50 metres because of the growing town and its lights.
- 1911: a first, unsuccessful electrification attempt.
- 1912: the lighthouse is electrified.
- 1944: it escapes planned destruction.
- 1948: the fixed green directional light is adopted.
- 2020: the lighthouse is fully repainted.
- With children: very suitable for a walk, as it needs no hike or climb.
Practical information
- Pets
- Fine for an outdoor walk, under local rules
- Accessibility
- The Bas-Sablons promenade has accessible stretches, making it one of the easiest lighthouses to see without difficult terrain
- Safety
- An urban site with no major difficulty; usual care on the quays and slipways
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon, in clear weather
- Photography
- The best shots combine the tower with the marina, the masts and the bay; a walk towards Solidor gives other angles
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.
Show 7 more tipsHide
- 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.
- Combine it with the Tour Solidor and the Cité d’Alet.
- Look for the La Balue light behind, which forms the leading line.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the Bas-Sablons lighthouse?
No, you see it from the streets, the promenade and the marina. There is no visit inside.
How much time should I allow?
30 min to 1 h 30, depending on your walk around Saint-Servan.
What is the main appeal?
Understanding how Saint-Malo’s inner channel is marked, from an easy-to-reach town lighthouse.
What is the atmosphere like?
Harbourside, urban, accessible and maritime.
When is the best time for photos?
Combine the tower with the marina and the masts; walk towards Solidor for other angles.
Is there any particular risk?
No major difficulty; usual care on the quays and slipways.
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Read in the journal
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Photograph: Remi Jouan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons