Ar-Men (Breton for "the stone") is a lighthouse "at sea". Like Kéréon, La Vieille and La Jument, Ar-Men is not easily accessible. The furthest from land, isolated at the end of the Chaussée de Sein (Finistère), Ar-Men has been nicknamed by its keepers the "Hell of all hells".
This 33.50 m-high lighthouse was built between 1867 and 1881 on a rock of the same name, which only emerges at low tide. A difficult and time-consuming task, given its location. The fire was officially lit on August 30, 1881. Subsequently, the base of the tower was reinforced to make it heavier and more resistant to storms.
For the keepers, life in the lighthouse was very precarious. It was unheated, and for a long time was lit only by kerosene lamps. Each keeper had his own room, and the kitchen served as a common room. Relief was also often postponed due to difficult sea conditions.
The lighthouse's isolation and history have inspired many authors, starting with writer Jean-Pierre Abraham, who was lighthouse keeper from 1959 to 1963. Henri Queffélec has also published "Un feu s'allume sur la mer", a novel based on the construction of the lighthouse.
This lighthouse was kept until 1990, when it was last relieved. Today, the lighthouse is only visited once a year for maintenance. The staff are winched in by helicopter. And even though the lighthouse has been listed as a historic monument since December 31, 2015, left to its own devices with no maintenance, we can fear for its condition.
And so, after more than a hundred years of service, Ar-Men has endured:
- thousands of storms, hurricanes including the one in 1987
- a serious fire in 1923 (only just saved from the explosion of the oil tank by the guards)
- german occupation (with 3 soldiers in addition to the guards)
How long will it last without maintenance?
