Lighthouse
Poulains Lighthouse
Sauzon, Belle-Île · Morbihan
At the north-western tip of Belle-Île, an 18 m lighthouse with keeper’s house, opened in 1868, 62 steps, a white flash every 5 seconds and an islet cut off at high tide.
- Suggested time
- 1 h 30 to 3 hours, longer with the Sarah Bernhardt spaces and a hike
- Type of place
- Lighthouse with keeper’s house open to visitors, and natural site
- Atmosphere
- Island, wild, romantic and cultural
- Getting there
- Pointe des Poulains in Sauzon, Belle-Île-en-Mer. Walk from the car park. Access to the islet depends on the tide and can be cut off.
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 Poulains lighthouse occupies one of the most spectacular locations on Belle-Île-en-Mer. Built on the islet at the Pointe des Poulains, it can be cut off from the main island at high tide when tidal coefficients exceed certain levels. This natural constraint was already part of the keepers’ daily lives. Work began in 1867 and the light was inaugurated on 15 September 1868. The lighthouse follows a model designed by Léonce Reynaud: a square tower attached to the keeper’s house, sheltered from the wind by walls. It is 18 metres tall, the light is 15.20 metres up, and the light, a white flash every five seconds, has a range of 24.5 miles. The lighthouse was electrified in 1950 and automated in 1987, the year the last keeper left. It is now controlled from Goulphar, and its power supply is topped up by solar panels. The site can be partly visited: an exhibition on the management of natural areas is set up inside the lighthouse. The staircase has 62 steps. The visit gains another dimension thanks to the nearby Sarah Bernhardt estate, the Villa des Cinq Parties du Monde and the Villa Lysiane. The essential rule remains the tide: always check that the islet can be reached before setting off.
What you will see
- Status: partly open to visitors; access to the islet depends on the tide.
- Height: 18 m; focal height 15.20 m.
- Steps: 62.
- Light: one white flash every 5 seconds.
- Range: 24.5 nautical miles.
- Electrified in 1950 and automated in 1987; powered by solar panels and batteries; controlled from the Goulphar lighthouse.
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- History: 1805, first plan for a turret on the headland; 1867, work begins; 15 September 1868, inauguration and first lighting; 1899, new optics; 1903, petroleum vapour lamp; 1950, electrification; 1987, automation and departure of the last keeper; 2004, the lighthouse becomes the property of the Conservatoire du littoral as part of the site.
Practical information
- Getting there
- Pointe des Poulains in Sauzon, Belle-Île-en-Mer. Walk from the car park. Access to the islet depends on the tide and can be cut off
- Pets
- Dogs may face restrictions on the natural site and in the museum areas
- Accessibility
- The natural ground and the crossing to the islet limit accessibility. Ask about the site’s facilities and the museum areas
- With family
- A beautiful family site, but keep a constant eye on children near the tidal crossing and the cliffs
- Safety
- Always check tide times and coefficients before heading to the islet. Never cross if the water is starting to cut the passage. Exposed cliffs and rocks
- Best time
- Low tide for the islet; late in the day for the light on the heathland
- Photography
- One of the best photo spots on Belle-Île. Views from the path take in the islet, the heathland and the sea. Sunset can be remarkable, but plan your return and the tide
- Nearby
- The Sarah Bernhardt estate, Sauzon, Ster Vraz, the GR340, the Pointe des Poulains, Belle-Île’s wild coast
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.
- Start by checking the day’s status: access to the islet depends on the tide.
- Allow 1 h 30 to 3 hours, so the visit is more than a photo.
- If the site has an exhibition, start or finish there to better understand what you have seen.
- Combine the Poulains lighthouse with the Sarah Bernhardt estate and Sauzon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the Poulains lighthouse?
Partly. Access to the islet depends on the tide and can be cut off. It is at the Pointe des Poulains in Sauzon, Belle-Île-en-Mer, a walk from the car park.
How much time should I allow?
1 h 30 to 3 hours, longer with the Sarah Bernhardt spaces and a hike.
What makes the site special?
Combining in one visit the lighthouse, the power of the tides, the landscape of the Pointe des Poulains and the world of Sarah Bernhardt.
What is the atmosphere like?
Island, wild, romantic and cultural.
When is the best time for photos?
It is one of the best photo spots on Belle-Île. Views from the path take in the islet, the heathland and the sea. Sunset can be remarkable, but plan your return and the tide.
Is there any particular risk?
Always check tide times and coefficients before heading to the islet. Never cross if the water is starting to cut the passage. Exposed cliffs and rocks.
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Photographs: Lepocheux · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Franck-fnba · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons