Ar-Men means “the rock” in Breton and sits on a barely exposed reef at the far end of t…

Ar-Men means “the rock” in Breton and sits on a barely exposed reef at the far end of the Chaussée de Sein, off the westernmost tip of Brittany. It took 14 years to build, from 1867 to 1881, because the sea was so violent that workers could only land on the rock for a few hours a year. Lighthouse keepers called it “the Hell of Hells” for its total isolation and savage exposure to the Atlantic. It was automated in 1990 and is now only accessible by helicopter or boat in calm weather, which almost never happens.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​