From lighthouse to lighthouse in Brittany...

The lighthouse of Saint-Mathieu, or "St-Mat" as it is called here, stands on a promontory overlooking the Iroise Sea. Built in 1835, it took over the responsibilities of the 11th-century abbey that stood in the same spot, whose monks kept a fire at the top of a tower to illuminate sailor's way into Brest's narrow gully.

The guardians of La Jument lighthouse say they sometimes felt it move under the assault of the waves—not exactly reassuring! The lighthouses were classified by sailors into three categories, according to the harsh working conditions: "Hell" for lighthouses at sea, "Purgatory" for island lighthouses and "Paradise" for lighthouses on land.

On the tip of Petit-Minou, the lighthouse of the same name indicates the route through the harbor to boats wishing to go to Brest. An incredible sight, this lighthouse is worth a boat ride to admire it from every angle.

With 59 kilometers (37 miles) of light range, the Creac'h lighthouse is one of the most powerful in the world. It is one of the five lighthouses on the island of Ouessant, the wildest of the Breton islands, in the Regional Natural Park of Armorica. At the foot of Creac'h, you must visit the Museum of Lighthouses and Beacons to decode the mysteries of luminous language!

Each lighthouse has its own light signature. Pontusval's one throws three white flashes every 12 seconds on a range of ten nautical miles—a reassuring presence at night. And by day, the lighthouse lords over a gentle landscape with white sand beaches.

At Plouguerneau, the view from the lighthouse of the Virgin Island must be earned. After arriving by boat, you will climb the 365 steps of a beautiful spiral staircase with walls painted an opaline azure. But it's worth the effort! From its 82.5 m (270 ft) summit, the highest lighthouse in Europe offers a breathtaking view of Abers country and its very rocky coast.

How does one construct a tower to resist the thrusts of a raging sea? This is the concern that guided the architects of the lighthouse of Pierres Noires during its construction in the 1870s. They chose to draw inspiration from medieval fortresses by doubling the diameter of the base compared to what was usually done. To make it more visible in foggy weather, the lighthouse was painted red a few decades later.

At the end of the Crozon peninsula stands the flagship house of Toulinguet. Built in the mid-19th century, it's a remarkable sight to contemplate at sunset or catch a view of the gray seals lounging on the beach.