The building, construction and function
The pointe du sémaphore dominates the entire Bay of Saint-Brieuc. At 50 metres above sea level, it offers a panoramic view from Bréhat (to the north) to Cap Fréhel (to the south).
Coastal surveillance and defense have always been of prime importance in Brittany. Multiple dangers came from the sea… often from England!
A battery of cannons…
Since the end of the 17th century, a battery of cannons has been installed on this point. Coastal defense was then ensured by “militia coast guards”. In 1756, the year the 7 Years’ War between France and England was declared, an inspection of the coast’s defenses was ordered. The watercolor plan drawn up on this occasion shows the first mole of Portrieux, probably just completed, a two-gun battery at the “Priauté” and the 3-gun battery on the semaphore point, accompanied by a small guardhouse flanked by a signal mast.
Saint-Quay et le port de Portrieux – Marquis de Caraman – in “Mémoire sur la Bretagne” – 1756
Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal
Since the time of Colbert, the coastline has been guarded and defended by a system of coastal signals. A continuous line of batteries, forts and guardhouses could theoretically communicate with each other by optical signals.
After the French Revolution, Charles Depillon developed a system that rivaled Chappe’s telegraph in simplicity and efficiency. A 12-meter mast, easy to assemble and operate, enabled communication with ships and from one semaphore to another. The Depillon masts, spread along the coast, were particularly useful during the continental blockade from 1805 to 1814.
The Saint-Quay semaphore signal station was equipped with a Depillon mast, still in use at the beginning of the 20th century.
In 1858, the structure passed from the administration of the estates to that of the customs, who used the guardhouse as an armed post for customs officers.
Le mât Depillon
1860: The first “semaphore”
Two years later, the land was acquired by the Navy and the first building was erected. With a standardized floor plan, it included a watch room and the watchmen’s house (mostly retired civilian maritime registrants) integrated into the building.
The semaphore’s mission is to monitor the coastline of the Bay of Saint-Brieuc, as well as local fishing and yachting activities. It provides weather warnings, communicates with passing ships and transmits disaster signals.
Its Morse telegraph station enables maritime administrations to communicate with each other. It also serves the public.
Like all semaphores, it is white and regular in shape.
Two civilian watchmen are assigned to maneuver the semaphore and electrical equipment, and maintain the installations. The post is equipped with the following instruments: barometer, thermometer, bearing compass, telescope and telegraph equipment. It is topped by the famous Depillon mast. Next to it, a ship’s mast rigged with a horn is used to communicate with offshore vessels using the signal flags used in navigation. It is also used to give meteorological indications. When a gale is forecast, black balls and cones indicating its strength and direction are hoisted on the mast.
The Saint-Quay semaphore remained in operation until 1950, when the premises were made available to the maritime registry (the administration responsible for registering all seafaring personnel, coastlines and navigation regulations). In 1958, the Hospitaliers Sauveteurs Bretons (HSB), an association dedicated to sea rescue, took over the daytime watch, first in summer, then 7 months a year, with the support of the Compagnie Républicaine de Sécurité, the CRS 13 of Saint-Brieuc, to ensure the safety of pleasure boating, fishing and during high tides.
In 1973, the Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM) took over, following its merger with the HSB. The daytime watch became a permanent feature, again with the help of the CRS 13.
Naufrage de l’Amoco Cadiz – Portsall – 16 mars 1978.
With the intention of rearming the semaphore, the Navy took over the building in 1979.
After an initial renovation, major work was carried out in 1985 to transform the building. The original building was enlarged, and a 12 m-high, semi-octagonal tower with panoramic viewing room was built. This is the tower you see here.
It is surrounded by a red portico which, according to the architect, is reminiscent of Breton gables in shape and white in color, restoring the station’s function as a landmark for navigation.
The wooden signal mast, knocked down in 1986, has now been replaced by the radar masts and antennae overhanging the tower.
