Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Stiff lighthouse, located on the island of Ouessant in Finistère, was designed at the end of the seventeenth century under the impetus of Vauban. In 1699 he decided to raise two truncated towers at the top of the cliff of the Stiff, the highest point of the island. One housed the stairs, the other housed the guards' quarters and the coal store. This lighthouse, among the first six built by Vauban, is one of the oldest still active in France, after that of Cordouan.

As early as the 13th century, Ouessant housed watch posts to prevent English attacks. At the end of the 17th century, a mission led by the Knight of Tourville studied the construction of a port and batteries on the island. Vauban opted for two towers with fanal in Stiff Bay to protect sheltered vessels. The first fire, lit in 1702 at the place called "Tombeau de Béhault", operated only in winter, fed by wood and coal.

Over the centuries, the lighthouse evolved technologically. In 1780, a reflector apparatus of Tourtille-Sangorin was installed, followed in 1821 by 12 parabolic lamps. In 1831, a 16-panel Fresnel lens was added and replaced in 1926 by a more powerful lens. The lighthouse was electrified in 1957 and automated in 1993. In 1902, radio tests were conducted there by Camille Tissot, marking an advance in maritime communications.

The lighthouse of the Stiff is a remarkable architectural ensemble, composed of two truncated towers, in masonry coated with exposed stones. The largest tower, topped by the lantern, housed the fuel reserve, while the finest tower, with a dome, contained the staircase. Two symmetrical buildings and a fence wall complete the whole, on a plot of 4,000 m2.

In 2003, the Société Nationale pour le Patrimoine des Phares et Balises opposed the sale of the houses of former guards, allowing their restoration by the Conservatoire du Littoral. Today, the lighthouse is open to the public between Easter and September, offering an exceptional panorama of the Iroise Sea. After a restoration in 2014, the rooms are accessible with a documented history trail.

Ranked a historic monument in 2011, the Stiff Lighthouse embodies both a maritime heritage and continuous technological innovation, while playing a key role in the safety of shipping in the Channel.

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