Penmarc’h’s Old Lighthouse Gets Its Lantern Back — and a New Lease on Life

A Tower Steeped in History

Built between 1831 and 1835 by Rouvillois de Glomel, the Old Lighthouse first lit up the coast on November 20, 1835. The tower, standing 38 metres tall, was perched on a square base housing 15 rooms across two floors. Back then, its lantern cast a flashing light 40 metres above sea level, guiding ships safely to shore.

But in 1897, the nearby Eckmühl Lighthouse took over as the region’s main beacon. A year later, the lantern was removed from the Old Lighthouse and replaced with a wooden dome made of Nordic fir. The tower’s southern face was whitewashed to serve as a daymark—an easily spotted daytime navigation aid.

The building continued to house lighthouse keepers until 1930. During World War II, German forces repurposed it as a radar post. An attempt to destroy the tower as they retreated failed but left the structure badly damaged. A metal collar was later added to stabilise a growing crack, though water kept seeping in.

For years, the lighthouse was used for storage—until 1995, when it reopened as a maritime heritage centre. In 2011, it was officially listed as a historic monument (Monument Historique), recognising its cultural and architectural significance.

A Three-Part Restoration Project

By 2021, after decades of exposure to salt, rain, and coastal winds, the lighthouse was in urgent need of repair. The City of Penmarc’h teamed up with the Fondation du Patrimoine de Bretagne to launch a three-phase restoration plan:

• Re-waterproofing the building
• Refurbishing the interiors
• Rebuilding the lantern

The ultimate goal? To finally reopen the lighthouse to the public—including access to the very top of the tower.

A public fundraising campaign was launched in the summer of 2021, and Crézé was selected to take on the challenge of crafting and installing the new lantern.

Crafting a Lantern from Scratch

At Crézé, heritage metalwork is more than a craft—it’s a calling. Over the years, we’ve built solid expertise in restoring iconic Breton lighthouses. We crafted the lantern for Pierres Noires in 2018, restored the lantern of Île Vierge in 2021, and most recently worked on the Moguériec lighthouse in Sibiril in 2024.

Two of these projects—Île Vierge and now the Old Lighthouse of Penmarc’h—were carried out in collaboration with Chief Architect for Historic Monuments Marie-Suzanne de Ponthaud, with whom we are proud to share a deep commitment to preserving maritime heritage.

This time, however, we weren’t restoring an existing lantern—we were recreating one that had disappeared over a century ago. Working from architectural drawings provided by the heritage architects, our design office translated the vision into precise technical plans.

The project demanded the perfect balance of historical sensitivity, structural integrity, and weather resistance. Design and planning took several months, followed by 1,100 hours of fabrication in our workshops. We mobilised a team of 2.5 full-time equivalents for 14 weeks, with on-site installation requiring a three-person crew over two weeks.

You can watch the full installation process in this timelapse video:

Brass, Curves, and Craftsmanship

Although the original plans called for mild steel, we recommended—and the architects agreed—to build the new lantern in brass, as we had for the Pierres Noires lantern. Brass offers superior resistance to corrosion and a longer lifespan in harsh maritime environments.

Unlike previous projects, where we restored existing lanterns, here we were building everything from the ground up—custom-designed and hand-crafted in our workshop.

It’s the largest lantern we’ve ever made:

• 3.80 metres in diameter
• 6.70 metres in height (glass structure, dome, and weathervane included)

The greatest technical challenge? The dome. Shaping and assembling it required exceptional precision and mastery of traditional brassworking techniques. Our skilled artisans rose to the challenge, combining heritage know-how with contemporary fabrication tools. We also worked hand-in-hand with trusted partners: Fonderie Renouard from Héric and MDPI from Saint-Symphorien (waterjet cutting).

The lift and installation were carried out by the expert rigging team at Mediaco Pont-L’Abbé.

A Lighthouse Reborn

Restoring a lighthouse isn’t just about fixing a structure—it’s about reviving a legacy. As Penmarc’h’s Deputy Mayor for Culture, Gilles Bernard, put it:

“This is living heritage. It tells a human story—the story of its builders, its keepers, the Phares et Balises, and all those who visit it. It’s far more than just a pile of stones.”

With the lantern now back in place, the rest of the restoration continues. Crézé is proud to be contributing to the next phases, including:

• Restoring the interior staircase
• Creating a new stairway
• Refurbishing the original gate
• Designing new railings, handrails, grilles, and balustrades

The lighthouse is scheduled to reopen to the public in September. Visitors will once again be able to explore the maritime museum—and for the first time ever, climb all the way to the top.

Until then, the new lantern can already be admired from the nearby Eckmühl Lighthouse, now watching over its older sibling once more.

At Crézé, we’re honoured to be part of this rebirth. We extend our deepest thanks to Marie-Suzanne de Ponthaud and the City of Penmarc’h for their trust in our craft and commitment.

*Cover image photo credit: Ville de Penmarc’h