Phare du cap Lihou

Phare du cap Lihou is a lighthouse standing on Pointe du Roc, the rocky headland guarding the entrance to the harbour of Granville, in the Manche department of Normandy. Its granite tower has watched over this stretch of coast for nearly two centuries and still guides ships safely into port today.

Why was a lighthouse built here?

The waters around Granville had a poor reputation among sailors for a long time — strong currents, rocks and shoals near the Lihou headland caused frequent shipwrecks. As early as 1822, Granville's Chamber of Commerce petitioned the authorities to install a light on Pointe du Roc. The director-general of Ponts et Chaussées, the French administration then responsible for coastal lighthouses as well as roads and bridges, approved the construction of a cylindrical granite tower fitted with a lens-based lighting apparatus.

Who designed it, and when was it built?

The plans were drawn up by Augustin Fresnel, the physicist whose name is still attached to the lens design used in lighthouses worldwide. The construction specifications were finalized on 14 March 1826, and the first stone was laid on 10 August 1827, in the presence of the Comte d'Estournel, a gentleman of the court of King Charles X. The works took over a year and were not free of trouble: the budget had projected a cost of around 24,000 francs, but the final bill exceeded 39,000 francs, sparking a dispute between the contractor and the administration over the overrun. The light was lit for the first time on 1 November 1828, and it has guided ships ever since.

How has the lighthouse changed over time?

The Phare du cap Lihou ranks among the oldest lighthouses included in the first modernization plan of French coastal lights, known as the Rossel plan. Despite its age, the tower has changed remarkably little: its interior fittings, apart from the optical apparatus itself, are largely original. Electrification was recorded as early as the 1920s, and in 1963 the lighting apparatus was upgraded for electric power, with an annex building added to house the machine room and living quarters for the keepers. One notable chapter in its history dates to the Second World War, when occupying German forces covered the entire structure — the keeper's house, the signal station and the walkway — in green camouflage paint to make it harder to spot from the air and sea. Since 2009, the lighthouse has been listed as a French historic monument.

Can visitors climb the lighthouse?

The lighthouse remains an active, working aid to navigation, so its interior is not normally open to the public. The exception is the annual European Heritage Days (Journées du Patrimoine) in September, when the building is sometimes opened to visitors. Outside those days, the lighthouse can only be admired from the outside — which is still rewarding, since the tower stands high on the cliff above the sea and is visible from a considerable distance.

How do you get there, and what else is worth seeing nearby?

A coastal walking path circles the entire Pointe du Roc headland, connecting Granville's fishing harbour with the old town, the Haute Ville. The route is easy and well signposted, offering views over the English Channel, the cliff-lined coast and, on a clear day, the Chausey Islands out at sea. It's one of the best spots in Granville to watch the sunset or take a bracing coastal walk, with the lighthouse itself serving as a natural landmark along the way.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of the lighthouse? Only on select days, mainly during European Heritage Days in September. For the rest of the year, it can only be seen from outside, along the coastal path around the headland.

Who designed the Phare du cap Lihou? The plans were drawn up by Augustin Fresnel, the inventor of the lens design that still bears his name and is used in lighthouses around the world.

When has the lighthouse been in operation? The light was first lit on 1 November 1828 and has operated continuously since, although its technical equipment has been upgraded several times.

Is the lighthouse a protected historic site? Yes, the Phare du cap Lihou has been listed as a French historic monument since 2009.