Lighthouse
Tréhic Lighthouse
Le Croisic · Loire-Atlantique
A nine-metre granite turret, built between 1869 and 1872 at the end of the 858-metre Tréhic jetty, at the entrance to the port of Le Croisic.
- Suggested time
- 45 min to 1 h 15 there and back from the start of the jetty, longer with the port.
- Type of place
- Historic jetty light
- Atmosphere
- Harbourside, windy, maritime and authentic.
- Getting there
- At the end of the Tréhic jetty in Le Croisic. On foot from the port when conditions allow walking on the jetty. No visit inside.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 9/10
- As a couple
- 8/10
- 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
You cannot understand the Tréhic lighthouse without its jetty. This long granite breakwater, reaching out about 858 metres at the entrance to the port of Le Croisic, was built in the 19th century to protect the harbour and the tidal inlets from strong currents. Until 1868, its end was only marked by a wooden beacon. The current lighthouse was built between 1869 and 1872 on the head of the jetty by the engineer Chatonay and the Nantes builder Pierre Jeanneau. The nine-metre turret is made of dressed stone from the quarries of Batz-sur-Mer. It was electrified in 1950. Its metal lantern was replaced in 1963, and its green-tinted panes match the light’s role at the harbour entrance. A keeper’s house was also built on land, at the start of the jetty, on the remains of an old coastal battery. Its horseshoe shape and its gate bearing the Phares et Balises emblem are an interesting addition. This is not a lighthouse to climb: the experience is above all walking the jetty, watching boats enter the port and looking back at the town, Pen-Bron and the inlets of Le Croisic.
What you will see
- Status: not open to visitors; you can see it from the jetty.
- Height: 9 m.
- Built: 1869 to 1872.
- Material: dressed stone from the quarries of Batz-sur-Mer.
- Electrification: 1950.
- Lantern: replaced in 1963.
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- Role: marks the entrance to the port of Le Croisic.
- Until 1868: a wooden beacon marks the end of the jetty.
- The keeper’s house, built at the same time at the start of the jetty, follows the horseshoe shape of an old coastal battery.
- With children: an easy, fun walk in calm weather; keep young children away from the edge.
Practical information
- Pets
- Possible outside, subject to local rules, with your dog under control
- Accessibility
- The length, surface and exposure of the jetty can make the route difficult; check local conditions
- Safety
- Do not walk on the jetty when waves break over it or in a gale warning; the stones can be slippery; always respect any closure
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon, in clear weather
- Photography
- The jetty makes a great leading line; from Pen-Bron, you get the opposite view with Le Croisic behind
- Nearby
- The port of Le Croisic, the Traict du Croisic, Pen-Bron, the Côte Sauvage, the Océarium du Croisic
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.
- Only walk the jetty in calm weather.
- For the opposite view, photograph the lighthouse from Pen-Bron.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the lighthouse?
No, you see it from the jetty. There is no visit inside.
How much time should I allow?
45 min to 1 h 15 there and back from the start of the jetty, longer with the port.
Why is it worth the walk?
For the historic jetty, the boats entering the port and the views of Le Croisic and Pen-Bron.
When is the best time for photos?
The jetty makes a great leading line; from Pen-Bron, you see the lighthouse with Le Croisic behind.
Is there any particular risk?
Do not walk on the jetty when waves break over it or in a gale warning.
Is the lighthouse still active?
It still marks the entrance to the port of Le Croisic.
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Traveller reviews
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Photograph: Jibi44 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons