Brittany has a high density of megalithic sites and is renowned for its standing stones which mostly date to the Neolithic period.

The sites include burial chambers, menhirs (standing stones), alley tombs and dolmens.


The is an interesting text on the subject which you can download. You can find comprehensive lists of megalithic sites in Finistere and here .

The most impressive megalith in Finistere is the Cairn de Barnenez . It is Europe’s oldest and largest megalithic mausoleum. Dating from 4500BC, the structure is known for its wealth of engraved symbols. The vast construction, made entirely from piled stones, comprises eleven funeral chambers which are connected by galleries. The cairn can be found on the eastern side the bay of Morlaix on the Kernelehen peninsula near Plouezoc'h.

Menhirs, which are large upright standing stones, are scattered all over Brittany. They were erected a few thousand years ago for reasons still unknown. The closest menhir to our gites is Le menhir à Kervic which can be found near Plouyé.

You will find the Le menhir du Cloître close to the D767 just outside Huelgoat , on the edge of the Monts d’Aree. Turn off on a small road, direction ‘Pontauban’, and keep on for the hamlets of Le Cloitre and St-Vinec. The menhir is some way before Le Cloîire, slightly obscured by a hedge but quite visible from the road. It is in a private garden.

Le menhir de Kerampeulven, which is over 6 metres high, stands in a field off the D14 as you travel from Huelgoat to Berrien. It is well signposted. The stone has always drawn many visitors; women who could not have children would come to rub their stomachs against it, and at one time there was a spring here with curative properties.

There are some fallen menhirs littering the ground at the site which is a great place for a picnic, there are even a couple of picnic benches!

Le menhir de Kerelcun can be found at La Feuillee near Brennilis. It is 5m high.

Menhirs can be found in groups, usually in rows which are known as alignement de menhirs. The Lagatjar alignments are an intriguing arrangement of stones, mostly consisting of large white quartz blocks on open common land. They lie just to the west of Camaret at the end of the Crozon Peninsula. There are 143 menhirs aligned into three lines but there are some outliers as well.

An alignment of 77 stones, known as La Noce de Pierres (the stone wedding party) lies at the foot of Mont-St-Michel. Some stones are barely more than ankle high and many have tipped over, the largest are about as tall as a person.

It is said that these stones were a large and boisterous wedding party, finishing the last dance of the festivities, when they were turned to stone for their impolite treatment of a traveller. Park at the Ferme-des-Artisans on the D785 near Brasparts where you can also buy produce made by local artisans.

A dolmen, also known as a tablet stone or cromlech, is a burial chamber which consists of stones arranged in the shape of a table.

The Roc'h Toul dolmen is a few kilometres outside of Mael Pestivien just over the border in Côtes-D'Armor. It can be found on a bank between two fields and is signposted from the centre of the village.

The Menez Lie dolmen sits on the south western slopes of Menez Hom. There is a footpath to it around the edge of the field, and a little clearing is left around it.

A covered alley tomb is a series of dolmens arranged to form a passageway. These are also know as passage graves. Mougau-Bihan can be found near the town of Commana. This large and cavernous ‘allée couverte’ is justifiably one of Brittany’s most famous megalithic sites. The stones are in good condition and inside there are several carvings, including one that is supposed to be an axe in relief, and another which is perhaps a ‘Mother Goddess’.

Ty ar Boudiged (Maison des Fees, House of the Fairies), is on the edge of Brennilis. It is owned by the Finistere Archaeology Society. It is one of the most unusual megaliths in Brittany because it retains its original mound of earth. It is thought that all dolmens and covered alleys were once buried in this way, but this is one of the few that have withstood the test of time.  As its name implies, it was once thought to have been inhabited by fairy-folk.

Carnac, over the border in Morbihan, is known for its unique rows of ancient standing stones. The town is split into two areas: Carnac-Ville, where you’ll find the stones and the Museum of Prehistory , and Carnac-Plage which has a lovely wide sandy beach set in a family seaside resort.

The standing stones of Carnac are one of Brittany’s greatest attractions. Three fields – Ménec, Kermario and Kerlescan – contain around 3,000 aligned rows of megaliths, which date from 4000BC. The granite stones were erected on the spot where they were dug, although it is not known why they were put up; it is thought they had a religious or cultural significance.

We thought it might be a bit too far for a day trip from our holiday home but we visited Carnac during autumn at sunset, had it mostly to ourselves, and were home an hour and a half later. A highly recommended trip though you do need to book a guided tour during the summer season if you wish to access the stones. You can find more information on the official website.

See more images of megalithic Brittany on our Pinterest board .