View source for Héaux de Bréhat Lighthouse

{{short description|Lighthouse in Côtes-d'Armor, France}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox lighthouse
| name            = Héaux de Bréhat Lighthouse
| image           = Phare Héaux de Bréhat.jpg
| caption         = The lighthouse in September 2006
| location        = [[Île-de-Bréhat]], [[Côtes-d'Armor]], [[France]]
| coordinates     = {{coord|48|54|30|N|3|05|15|W|display=inline,title}}
| yearbuilt       = 1834–1840
| yearlit         =
| automated       = 1982
| yeardeactivated =
| foundation      =
| construction    =
| shape           = round
| marking         =
| height          = {{convert|187|ft}}
| currentlens     =
| intensity       =
| characteristic  = Alt. Occ. W R G 12s
| lens            =
| fogsignal       =
| racon           =
}}
The '''Héaux de Bréhat''' is an active [[lighthouse]] in [[Côtes-d'Armor]], [[France]], located on the [[Île-de-Bréhat]]. The lighthouse is closed to the public.
Built by French engineer [[Léonce Reynaud]] in 1840, it sits on the reefs of [[Tréguier]], near the [[Sillon de Talbert]]. It is on the western end of the Bay of [[Saint-Brieuc]], and marks the entrance to the island of Bréhat from the ''Trieux'' channel.
It was classified as a ''[[monument historique]]'' on 23 May 2011.<ref>{{Base Mérimée|PA22000031|Notice No PA22000031}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bretagne.pref.gouv.fr/Actualites-Agenda/Breves/Classement-au-titre-des-monuments-historiques-de-plusieurs-phares-ou-anciens-phares-du-littoral |title=Classement au titre des monuments historiques de plusieurs phares ou anciens phares du littoral |date=22 November 2010 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |language=French |trans-title=Classification of many lighthouses and old coast lighthouses as historic monuments |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604212720/http://www.bretagne.pref.gouv.fr/Actualites-Agenda/Breves/Classement-au-titre-des-monuments-historiques-de-plusieurs-phares-ou-anciens-phares-du-littoral |archive-date=4 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== History ==
The French Lighthouse Commission decided to build a lighthouse on the reefs of Tréguier in 1831, entrusting the construction of a temporary structure to a carpenter from [[Saint-Brieuc]]. The project, a white signal light, was completed in 1832, but destroyed within a year due to strong currents and surf. In April 1834, Leonor Fresnel commissioned 32-year-old engineer Léonce Reynaud to design a lighthouse.
[[File:Héaux-de-Bréhat.JPG|thumb|left|Aerial view of the lighthouse]]
Reynaud's approach was different, and did not fit in with the typical British-style architecture of lighthouses in 19th century [[Brittany]]. The building was constructed in two blocks: the first block was solid and modeled after the British lighthouses [[Eddystone Lighthouse|Eddystone]] and [[Bell Rock Lighthouse|Bell Rock]], while the second block was lighter in style, upon which the illumination was to be placed at its final height.
Blocks of [[granite]] were cut to size, numbered, and delivered to be assembled on site. The setbacks to construction were numerous, including several contractors backing out due to safety concerns, the proposed laying of the first stone being postponed due to bad weather, strikes shutting down the site in October 1838, and difficulties with exceeding the budget.
The light was finally lit for the first time in February 1840, with an initial height of 154&nbsp;ft (47&nbsp;m).
On 18 June 1903, the [[light characteristic|characteristic]] became white with a period of 4 seconds.
In August 1944, the [[Nazi Germany|Germans]] blew up the tower with dynamite. 49&nbsp;ft (15&nbsp;m) of the lighthouse disappeared into the sea, but it was quickly rebuilt and raised one floor to reach 187&nbsp;ft (57&nbsp;m).
The light was automated in 1982.
== Popular culture ==
The Héaux de Bréhat is featured on bottles of [[Glann ar Mor distillery|Glann ar Mor]] [[whisky]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glannarmor.com/distillerie.htm |title=Glann ar Mor website |accessdate=31 October 2013 |language=French, English |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922044539/http://glannarmor.com/distillerie.htm |archivedate=22 September 2013}}</ref>
The lighthouse is featured prominently in the French movie ''[[A Very Long Engagement]]'' (2004), as is the entire island of Ile de Bréhat, where the hero and heroine live. Stars include [[Audrey Tautou]], [[Jodie Foster]] and [[Marion Cotillard]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0344510/locations |title=A Very Long Engagement (2004) |publisher=IMDb |access-date=18 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907212735/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0344510/locations |archive-date=7 September 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{stack|{{Portal|France|Engineering}}}}
* [[List of lighthouses in France]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Lighthouse Digest|3057}}
{{Commons category|Héaux de Bréhat lighthouse|position=left}}
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[[Category:Lighthouses completed in 1840]]
[[Category:Lighthouses of the English Channel]]
[[Category:Monuments historiques of Côtes-d'Armor]]