Île Noire Lighthouse

Île Noire Lighthouse stands on a small rocky islet in Morlaix Bay, within the commune of Plouezoc'h in France's Finistère department. At high tide the islet is nearly submerged, leaving the tower appearing to rise straight out of the sea — a striking sight for anyone watching from the shore or from a boat. Just nearby, on a neighboring rock, sits the well-known Château du Taureau fort, and together the two landmarks form one of the most recognizable views at the entrance to the port of Morlaix.

How do you get to Île Noire Lighthouse?

The lighthouse sits offshore, so there's no road or footpath leading to it — this is a landmark you view from a distance rather than a building you walk into. The best starting points are the coastal towns of Plouezoc'h and Carantec, both of which offer boat trips as well as kayak and paddleboard rentals across Morlaix Bay. On a calm day with favorable tides, you can paddle or sail close enough to see the tower's structure clearly. If you'd rather stay on land, several coastal viewpoints around Plouezoc'h and Carantec give a good long-range view — visibility changes a lot with the tide, so it's worth checking a tide table before setting out.

What will you actually see?

The tower is shaped like a truncated square pyramid: 6 meters wide on each side at the base, narrowing to 5.7 meters at the cornice, with a total height of 13.6 meters. It was built from dressed stone brought from Île Longue, combined with rubble stone from the island of Stérec. Its distinctive look comes from the seaward face painted white and a red lantern housing at the top — a color scheme meant to help ships pick out the light at night among the surrounding rocks. The lighthouse is still an active navigation aid guiding vessels into Morlaix, though it has long operated automatically, with no lighthouse keeper on site.

Where does this lighthouse come from?

The story starts in the first half of the 19th century. In 1841, ship captains from Tréguier submitted a petition, backed by the local chamber of commerce, calling for four navigational lights to mark the approach channels into the port of Morlaix. The push came after a regular steamship line between Morlaix and Le Havre had launched the year before, and the growing commercial traffic needed better markers through a notoriously rocky approach. Engineer Aumaître drew up the lighthouse design in March 1843, and the construction contract went to Louis Guillotou de Kerever, a builder from Morlaix, who won the bid in June 1844. The project was budgeted at 20,000 francs, later trimmed down to 18,000 francs.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer offer the best conditions, with longer daylight and calmer weather making boat trips and kayak outings across the bay easier to plan. Aim for a visit around high tide, when the islet is mostly covered and the lighthouse appears to float on the water — this is when it looks most dramatic and photographs best. Low tide, on the other hand, exposes more of the rocks and gives a clearer look at the tower's foundation.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Île Noire Lighthouse? No, the interior isn't open to visitors — it's a working navigation light, best appreciated from outside, ideally from the water.

Is the lighthouse still in operation? Yes, the light still serves as an active aid to navigation for ships entering Morlaix, but it runs automatically and has no resident keeper.

What's the best way to see it up close? Boat trips or kayak rentals from Carantec or Plouezoc'h are the best option, and most routes also pass near the nearby Château du Taureau fort.

Can the lighthouse be seen from the shore? Yes, from several coastal viewpoints around Plouezoc'h and Carantec, though the distance and visibility depend on the tide.