Phare du Légué

Phare du Légué is a small granite lighthouse standing in Plérin, right at the entrance to the Légué harbour that serves Saint-Brieuc in Brittany. Also known as the Pointe-à-l'Aigle lighthouse (locally nicknamed "Sous-la-Tour"), it has guided ships safely into port since 1857, whatever the hour or the state of the tide.

How do you get there?

The lighthouse sits at the end of a roughly 45-metre jetty in Plérin, right by the mouth of the Gouët river and the entrance to the Légué harbour. From central Saint-Brieuc it's a short drive or a bus ride of a few minutes toward the coast. The lighthouse stands on the Plérin side of the harbour channel, opposite the built-up part of Saint-Brieuc, so it's worth checking the route along the quay in advance. The area is a popular walking spot — a seafront promenade runs the length of the jetty, offering views of both the lighthouse and boats moving in and out of the harbour.

What will you see on site?

The lighthouse itself is a short but distinctive tower of cut granite, standing around 13.5 to 14 metres tall, built between 1855 and 1857 and put into service on 1 April 1857. Its job was to make the Légué harbour accessible at any hour, regardless of the tide, letting sailors navigate the narrower harbour mouth safely even at night. It originally showed a fixed white light powered by mineral oil; in 1925 this was replaced by a green electric light, still in use today, which helps distinguish the Légué entrance from other navigation lights in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc. From the jetty around the lighthouse you get views over the river mouth, fishing and leisure boats coming and going, and the coastline of both Plérin and Saint-Brieuc.

When should you visit?

Spring and summer are the best seasons, when longer days and calmer weather make it comfortable to walk the full length of the jetty and take in both the lighthouse and the view over the bay. Keep in mind that Légué is a harbour with the strong tidal range typical of Brittany — at low tide the channel can empty out almost completely, while at high tide the water level rises dramatically, which is itself worth seeing for anyone curious about coastal tides. Sunset is a good time to catch the lighthouse's green light coming to life.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the Légué lighthouse? The lighthouse remains an active navigational aid and is not open to visitors inside. It can, however, be freely viewed from the outside while walking along the jetty.

Does this lighthouse have another name? Officially it is the phare de la Pointe-à-l'Aigle, though locally it's also called "Sous-la-Tour." The name "Phare du Légué" reflects its role as the entrance light for Légué harbour.

Are there other things to see nearby? Yes — the Légué harbour itself is a historic quarter of Saint-Brieuc with quaysides, restaurants, and traces of its old maritime trade, and the promenade along the jetty is a favourite spot for locals and visitors to walk.

Is the lighthouse still operational? Yes, it is active and shows a green electric light, which since 1925 has replaced the original oil-powered light, helping ships enter the Légué harbour safely.