Phare de Rochebonne

Phare de Rochebonne is one of Saint-Malo's four lighthouses, on the Brittany coast, also known locally as the phare de la Haize. It stands in the Lévy district of the former town of Paramé — now part of Saint-Malo — on a rise above Minihic beach, with wide views over the English Channel.

How do you get there?

The lighthouse sits on the edge of Saint-Malo, on the Paramé side, a short bike ride or drive from the old town and the main beaches, with the last stretch best covered on foot. The route runs through a quiet residential seafront area lined with villas, opening up to ocean views along the way. It works well as a stop on a longer coastal walk that links Minihic beach with the viewpoints further along toward Rothéneuf and Cancale.

What will you see there?

Rochebonne is a 20-metre square tower, grey overall, with a white west-facing wall and a red top — a colour combination designed to make the lighthouse easy to identify from the sea. It shows a fixed red light with a range of 24 nautical miles. Together with the Grand Jardin lighthouse further out in the water, it forms a navigational alignment marking the safe course through the Grande Porte channel into Saint-Malo harbour: sailors line the two towers up, one above the other, to steer clear of the rocks and shoals at the bay's entrance.

The lighthouse is automated and remotely operated, so there's no access to the inside and no guided visits. The appeal here is the view itself — the tower's silhouette against sky and sea, the surrounding cliffside setting, and the sightline toward Grand Jardin and the wider Emerald Coast.

A bit of history

Rochebonne was first lit on 15 April 1868, originally burning oil, in tandem with the Grand Jardin lighthouse — the pair was designed from the outset to mark the harbour's entrance channel. It was electrified in 1929, improving both reliability and range. In the summer of 1944, during the fighting for the liberation of Saint-Malo, retreating German forces partially destroyed the tower, as happened to most lighthouses in the region, which were treated as strategic targets. Reconstruction began in 1948, and the light was relit in 1951, giving the tower roughly the form it has today.

When should you visit?

The lighthouse can be seen year-round, but spring, summer and early autumn offer the best conditions for walking and photography, with longer days and sunset light that picks out the red top against the sky. It pairs well with a coastal walk toward Rothéneuf, where the lighthouse serves as a natural landmark along the way.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the Phare de Rochebonne? No. It's automated and remotely controlled, and the interior is not open to visitors — it can only be viewed from the outside.

Why does the lighthouse have such an unusual colour scheme? The grey tower with a white west-facing wall and red top is a navigational marking: it helps sailors identify the lighthouse by day from any angle at sea.

What role does Rochebonne play alongside the Grand Jardin lighthouse? Together they form a leading line marking the safe course through the Grande Porte channel into Saint-Malo harbour, with ships aligning the two towers one above the other.

Was the lighthouse damaged during the war? Yes, it was partially destroyed by retreating German forces in the summer of 1944. It was rebuilt between 1948 and 1951 and has operated in that form ever since.