Classification of headlamps
Lighthouses are classified according to several criteria, including their interest for navigators, their range or their field.
Large landing lights signal the turns of shipping routes, secondary landing lights and lights or coastal staking lights signal the route of a busy road. Finally, lighthouses and harbour entrance lights signal estuaries and harbours.
The headlights are classified in three orders, according to their light range. A"first order" lighthouse has a range of 60 km, a"second order" lighthouse has a range of 40 km and a"third order" lighthouse has a range of 28 km.
Finally, the lighthouses are classified by area, according to the living conditions inside. Lightkeepers classified them into 3 categories:
- The heaven for lighthouses located on land
- The Purgatory for headlights located on batteries
- The Hell for lighthouses located in the open sea.
The Lighthouse of Tévennec, at the entrance of the bay of Douarnenez, which belongs to the category of the Infernos
Key figures
6140 is the number of marine signal elements including beacons, turrets, landmarks, harbour lights, buoys, spars and lighthouses.
1521 is the number of fires
135 is the number of headlights
220 is the number of lighthouse heritage buildings including light houses (which do not meet the administrative definition of lighthouses), most of which are active.
62 is the number of flagship homes
32 is the number of lighthouses at sea
95 is the number of lighthouses protected as historic monuments
36 is the number of lighthouses open to the public
Old Lighthouse
The main lighthouses of the French coast
North Atlantic - Western Channel
There are 102 outstanding headlamps and lights 25 of which are protected as historic monuments. 24 are at sea and 16 lighthouses are open to visitors.
Eastern Channel - North Sea
There are 38 outstanding headlamps and lights 22 of which are protected as historic monuments, 6 of which are open to visitors.
Mediterranean
There are 39 outstanding headlamps and lights 19 of which are protected as historic monuments and 1 of which is open to visitors.
South Atlantic
There are 24 remarkable headlamps and lights 19 of which are protected as historic monuments and 11 of which are open to visitors.
Overseas
There are 17 remarkable lighthouses and lights 10 of which are protected as historic monuments and 2 of which are open to visitors.
