Kerdonis lighthouse

Kerdonis Lighthouse stands on the eastern tip of Belle-Île-en-Mer, in the commune of Locmaria, right above Port Andro beach. It is one of four lighthouses guarding the coast of Brittany's best-known island, and a natural stop on a walk along the eastern cliffs of Morbihan.

Where is the lighthouse and how do you get there

Kerdonis rises on the headland that shares its name, marking the line between the open Atlantic and the calmer waters facing the mainland. From Le Palais, the island's main port, it's a short drive or scooter ride away — the two most common ways of getting around Belle-Île. The last stretch runs through the village of Locmaria, from where the coastal footpath (sentier des douaniers) leads straight to the base of the tower. The surrounding landscape — low rocks, heathland, and open sea views — is typical of the island's eastern shore, in contrast to the steeper cliffs on the western side where the Poulains lighthouse stands.

Why does the lighthouse look the way it does

The lighthouse was built between 1877 and 1878 and entered service on 1 June 1879. Its design was deliberately made to look different from the earlier Poulains lighthouse on the opposite end of the island, so that sailors could tell the two towers apart during daylight hours, without waiting for dusk and the lamp being lit. This was a practical solution typical of the French 19th-century system of coastal markers, where each lighthouse was meant to have a distinct daytime silhouette recognisable from a ship's deck.

What history is tied to this place

The most striking episode in the lighthouse's history took place on 18 April 1911. Keeper Alexandre Matelot died suddenly while cleaning the lighthouse lens, at a moment when the optical mechanism was partly dismantled. To keep the light from going dark, his wife and their sons — reportedly 11 and 13 years old — took turns hand-cranking the rotating mechanism through the entire night, standing in for the automatic system. The story quickly made national headlines and was later romanticised in the press and popular literature as an example of a lighthouse family's devotion to duty. It is still recounted in stories about Belle-Île today, and it is one of the reasons Kerdonis is remembered as more than just a navigational marker on a map.

What can you see on site

The lighthouse remains an active navigational structure, so access to the inside of the tower can be limited and depends on opening hours that are described locally as not guaranteed — it's worth checking with Belle-Île's tourist office before visiting. Regardless, walking up to the base of the lighthouse and along the surrounding coastline is unrestricted. It makes a good stop on a coastal walk along the island's eastern shore, with views over the open Atlantic and the nearby Port Andro beach.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Kerdonis lighthouse located? On the Pointe de Kerdonis, at the eastern tip of Belle-Île-en-Mer, in the commune of Locmaria, in the Morbihan department of Brittany.

When was the lighthouse built? It was constructed between 1877 and 1878 and put into service on 1 June 1879.

Can you go inside or climb the lighthouse? It is an active navigation aid, and access inside can be limited, with opening hours not guaranteed — check with the local tourist office before visiting.

What happened at the lighthouse in 1911? After keeper Alexandre Matelot died while cleaning the lens, his wife and sons hand-operated the rotating mechanism through the night to keep the light running — a story that became widely known across France.