Cycling through the lights on the island of Ouessant

The road to the lighthouse at Le Creac'h is sensational: one comes across numerous mills that have preserved their original wooden architecture as if we were in Holland, at least until Plage de Yusin, the spectacular inlet near which is the lantern guarding the Mer d'Iroise facing and, above all, almost always sulking with the English Channel. Well, the waves here are furious, galleons, sailing ships and even modern boats have suffered. Fortunately, this light tower built in 1863 has watched over the crossing, bringing many a long-distance captain to safety. As proof of its role, the Lighthouse Museum has been set up inside, where you can learn about the evolution of optical systems. The whole island of Ouessant, after all, is a paradise for lighthouse enthusiasts. You rent a bicycle and pedal between cottages surrounded by stone walls, past small cemeteries with wax crosses, until you reach the Stiff lantern, which is reminiscent of a medieval manor house: after all, it was designed by the Marquis Sébastien Le Prestre, known as Vauban, King Louis XIV's favourite military engineer. Its light can be perceived up to forty-four kilometres away. The Nividic lighthouse is also impressive in that it is only connected to the mainland by a cable car, while the La Jument lighthouse can be reached on foot by following a path that 'gets lost' among swollen heather and gorse bushes.