Île Vierge ( Breton language: Enez-Werc'h) is a 6-hectare (15-acre) [1] islet lying 1.5 kilometres (3⁄4 nautical mile) off the north-west coast of Brittany, opposite the village of Lilia. [2] It is in the commune of Plouguerneau, in the département of Finistère. [2] It is the location of the tallest stone lighthouse in Europe, [2] [3] and the tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world. [4] The International Hydrographic Organization specifies Île Vierge as marking the south-western limit of the English Channel. [5]
About 1450, the Conventual Franciscans established an abbey on the island. [2] The name "Île Vierge" probably comes from a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. [2] In 1507, the monks moved to Aber Wrac'h on the mainland. [2] In 1844, the French state purchased the island [2] from sieur Goyon de Coëpel for 6,000 francs. [1]
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Location | Île Vierge,
Finistère France |
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Coordinates | 48°38′20″N 4°34′03″W / 48.638888°N 4.567493°W |
Tower | |
Constructed | 1845 (first) |
Construction | stone tower (first) granite tower (current) |
Automated | 2010, 2002
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Height | 31 m (102 ft) (first) 82.5 m (271 ft) (current) |
Shape | square tower with balcony and lantern (first) tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern (current) |
Markings | white tower and lantern (first) unpainted tower, green lantern dome (current) |
Heritage | classified historical monument
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Light | |
First lit | 1902 (current) |
Focal height | 77 m (253 ft) (current) |
Lens | 4 Fresnel lenses |
Range | 50 km (27 nmi) [6] |
Characteristic | Fl W 5s. |
The first lighthouse was a square tower 33 metres (108 ft) high constructed in 1842–45. [2] It started operation on 15 August 1845, [2] feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin. [7] It had a fixed white light visible for 14 nautical miles (26 kilometres). [2] It remained in use while the second lighthouse was under construction in 1896–1902. A foghorn was installed in 1952, replaced in 1993 by an electric beacon. [2]
The newer lighthouse is 82.5 metres (271 ft) tall, made of blocks of granite. [8] The external face is a truncated cone; the interior face is cylindrical, lined with 12,500 opaline glass tiles made by Saint-Gobain. [2] There are five steps to the front door; inside, 360 steps of stone and 32 of iron lead to the lamp platform. [2] The electric lamp was installed in 1952 on the original mechanical turning plate, sitting in a bath of mercury. [2] The plate was replaced with an electric motor in 1983. [2] The lamp has four lenses with a focal length of 0.5m. [2] The twin beam gives a white flash every 5 seconds, visible for 27 nmi (50 km). [2] Electrical generators were installed in 1959, supplemented in 1967–1994 by two wind turbines. [2] The light and rotation are activated automatically by a photoelectric sensor. [2] Although the lighthouse is automated, the site is still staffed. [9]
The island is open to the public from April to September, as is the lighthouse, by appointment. [2] The number of visitors was 5,944 in 2003; 5,974 in 2004; 7,371 in 2005. [10] Both lighthouses are a listed monument since 2011. [3]
Île Vierge ( Breton language: Enez-Werc'h) is a 6-hectare (15-acre) [1] islet lying 1.5 kilometres (3⁄4 nautical mile) off the north-west coast of Brittany, opposite the village of Lilia. [2] It is in the commune of Plouguerneau, in the département of Finistère. [2] It is the location of the tallest stone lighthouse in Europe, [2] [3] and the tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world. [4] The International Hydrographic Organization specifies Île Vierge as marking the south-western limit of the English Channel. [5]
About 1450, the Conventual Franciscans established an abbey on the island. [2] The name "Île Vierge" probably comes from a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. [2] In 1507, the monks moved to Aber Wrac'h on the mainland. [2] In 1844, the French state purchased the island [2] from sieur Goyon de Coëpel for 6,000 francs. [1]
| |
| |
Location | Île Vierge,
Finistère France |
---|---|
Coordinates | 48°38′20″N 4°34′03″W / 48.638888°N 4.567493°W |
Tower | |
Constructed | 1845 (first) |
Construction | stone tower (first) granite tower (current) |
Automated | 2010, 2002
![]() |
Height | 31 m (102 ft) (first) 82.5 m (271 ft) (current) |
Shape | square tower with balcony and lantern (first) tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern (current) |
Markings | white tower and lantern (first) unpainted tower, green lantern dome (current) |
Heritage | classified historical monument
![]() |
Light | |
First lit | 1902 (current) |
Focal height | 77 m (253 ft) (current) |
Lens | 4 Fresnel lenses |
Range | 50 km (27 nmi) [6] |
Characteristic | Fl W 5s. |
The first lighthouse was a square tower 33 metres (108 ft) high constructed in 1842–45. [2] It started operation on 15 August 1845, [2] feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin. [7] It had a fixed white light visible for 14 nautical miles (26 kilometres). [2] It remained in use while the second lighthouse was under construction in 1896–1902. A foghorn was installed in 1952, replaced in 1993 by an electric beacon. [2]
The newer lighthouse is 82.5 metres (271 ft) tall, made of blocks of granite. [8] The external face is a truncated cone; the interior face is cylindrical, lined with 12,500 opaline glass tiles made by Saint-Gobain. [2] There are five steps to the front door; inside, 360 steps of stone and 32 of iron lead to the lamp platform. [2] The electric lamp was installed in 1952 on the original mechanical turning plate, sitting in a bath of mercury. [2] The plate was replaced with an electric motor in 1983. [2] The lamp has four lenses with a focal length of 0.5m. [2] The twin beam gives a white flash every 5 seconds, visible for 27 nmi (50 km). [2] Electrical generators were installed in 1959, supplemented in 1967–1994 by two wind turbines. [2] The light and rotation are activated automatically by a photoelectric sensor. [2] Although the lighthouse is automated, the site is still staffed. [9]
The island is open to the public from April to September, as is the lighthouse, by appointment. [2] The number of visitors was 5,944 in 2003; 5,974 in 2004; 7,371 in 2005. [10] Both lighthouses are a listed monument since 2011. [3]