Phare du Cap Fréhel

Phare du Cap Fréhel is a lighthouse built in 1946 in the Département Côtes-d’Armor (Bretagne). Its light located 100 meters above the sea (32,85 meters above the ground) can reach the distance of 55 km. It lights the dangerous passage from Saint-Brieuc to Saint-Malo and replaced an older tower, which was destroyed in WW-II.
In 1694 Vauban, Marshal of France of Louis XIV, commissioned the construction of a series of coastal forts and watchtowers to protect the French shores from English incursions. In 1702 his assistant Jean-Simeon Garangeau – the Chief Engineer and Director of the Fortifications of St-Malo – supervised the construction of the 15m high round old tower, which still exists. This first watchtower was in use only during the winter months and was powered by coal which was burnt in the open on the roof terrace (see image before).