Hell of hells. This is how the keepers nicknamed the Ar-Men lighthouse, regularly swept by the Breton swell. Planted on a rock off the island of Sein (Finistère) the tower stretches more than 30 meters above sea level. Commissioned in 1881, the black and white lighthouse is one of the best known of the French coast. But like that of the Mare or the Old, it suffers greatly, especially since its automation in 1990 which led to the departure of its last guards. To remedy this, the Interregional Directorate of the North Atlantic Channel West (Dirm Namo) announced that Ar-Men was currently undergoing a major renovation project.
Who sees Sein sees his end
Lighthouse and beacon officers have undertaken the restoration of the lantern. Dismantled in July, the Ar-Men lantern was transported ashore to the workshops on Quai Malbert, in Brest. Responsible for illuminating the horizon and warning boats of the proximity of the dangerous rocks of the Raz de Sein, the optics with a range of 20 nautical miles (about 40 kilometers) will be restored. Modernized in 2019, the Fresnel lens could be kept. Its mercury tank has disappeared, replaced by a ball bearing system.
The site is colossal and it will take at least two years for the lantern to be reinstalled in 2024. “The reinstallation will be followed by various additional works, including the renovation of the lighthouse”, warns Dirm Namo. Until then, a temporary light system will alert sailors who come too close to the coast.