Journées du Patrimoine - Visite guidée du sémaphore

**Visit not accessible for people with reduced mobility.
ID card or passport required.
Reservation mandatory.
Duration: 30 minutes – groups of up to 7 people.**

**A lookout at the tip of Penmarc’h**
The semaphore was built in 1862. It is one of 59 semaphores that monitor the French coastline.
It is operated by the French Navy (*Marine nationale*) and has two missions:

* **Defense**: monitoring maritime and aerial space, and overseeing radio frequencies.
* **Public service**: saving human lives, preventing maritime disasters, and ensuring compliance with fishing and boating regulations.
**A bit of history…**

* **1806**: By order of Vice Admiral Decrès, Minister of the Navy, a semaphore signal network is established along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean.
* In the **15th century**, the old tower was equipped with moving signal arms. The semaphores at La Torche and Lesconil reported to it.
* **1831**: A temporary light is installed on the old tower. Semaphore operations are suspended until **1835**. After the construction of the new lighthouse, the temporary light is dismantled and the semaphore resumes service.
* **1861**: The Navy acquires part of the old cemetery (at the very tip of the site) to establish a new semaphore post. The current semaphore was commissioned in **1862**, and the semaphorists’ houses were built

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