Rosedo Lighthouse

Rosedo Lighthouse stands at the northern tip of Île-de-Bréhat, a small island off the Côtes-d'Armor coast in Brittany. It is the northernmost structure on the island, marking the entrance to the Passe du Trieux, the narrow rocky channel that ships use to reach the mouth of the Trieux river.

The tower you see today is not the original one. The first lighthouse here dates from 1858, and its light was first lit on 1 August 1860 — a square stone tower roughly 11.5 metres tall, built against the keeper's house. That structure stood for nearly a century until 1944, when retreating German occupation forces blew it up, leaving only the base intact.

The current tower was rebuilt between 1947 and 1949, designed by architects Henri Auffret and Joël Hardion. It's a slimmer, rectangular structure with a rounded front, attached to a stone keeper's house with a slate roof. It stands 13.10 metres tall, with the light visible from 40 metres above sea level — by comparison, the old lighthouse's beam had reached 27.5 metres above the water.

How do you get there?

Île-de-Bréhat sits just off the coast opposite Pointe de l'Arcouest, reached by a short ferry crossing of a few minutes. The island itself is car-free, so getting to the lighthouse means walking or cycling. Rosedo sits on the northern side of Bréhat, and the walk from the harbor typically takes 30-40 minutes depending on which coastal path you follow.

What will you see there?

This isn't a monumental structure — it's a compact, white-and-red tower set into the rocky landscape of northern Bréhat. The real draw is the surroundings: rugged rocks, heathland, and open sea views toward the Passe du Trieux and the neighboring islets. It's one of the island's favorite spots for watching the sunset, when the local pink granite takes on its characteristic glow.

When should you visit?

Spring and summer are the best seasons, when the coastal paths are dry and the heather is in bloom. It's worth avoiding the busiest midday hours during peak holiday season, since both the ferries and the paths can get crowded — an early morning or late afternoon visit means fewer crowds and better light for photos.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the lighthouse? Rosedo remains an active maritime navigation aid and is not open for interior visits — it's a sight to admire from the outside while walking the surrounding coastal paths.

Why does it look different from old postcard photos? Because it genuinely is different. The original 1858/1860 tower was destroyed in 1944 by retreating German forces. What stands today was rebuilt from scratch between 1947 and 1949 in a different, lower shape.

Is it worth combining with other spots on the island? Yes — the northern tip of Bréhat around Rosedo pairs naturally with a walk along the coastal paths toward the island's other viewpoints, since all of Bréhat is small enough to explore on foot or by bike in a day.

Is this the same lighthouse as Roches-Douvres? No. The Phare des Roches-Douvres stands on a remote offshore archipelago dozens of kilometers from Bréhat and is a completely different, much larger structure. Rosedo sits directly on Île-de-Bréhat itself.