Dolmen de Méarzenne

Trip No.203  Entry No.321  Date Added: 29th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Couldn't find on 9th Jun 2005

Log Text: I had a long walk around the coastal path here, after parking the campervan for the night, but I could not find a way to access the wood within which this dolmen lives, as there are lots of big holiday homes and houses with big fenced gardens surrounding it all.

Pointe de Cofréneau cairn

Trip No.203  Entry No.322  Date Added: 29th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cairn Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Couldn't find on 9th Jun 2005

Log Text: I had a long walk around the coastal path here, after parking the campervan for the night, but I could not find any sign at all of this. It is probably in a garden or underneath lots of thick gorse and undergrowth.

Allée couverte du Net dit Clos-et-Bé

Trip No.203  Entry No.340  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Just 40 metres from the nearby menhir can be seen a long mound, but which is completely overgrown in the middle of its field, which was empty at the time of my visit. Closer inspection reveals there to be many stones in the mound, and at least two capstones still in position on top of what is a 21 metre long allée-couverte.

Menhir de Clos-et-Bé 1

Trip No.203  Entry No.339  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: This menhir which is about 3 metres tall, and just 40 metres from its neighbouring dolmen, is getting swamped by undergrowth in the middle of a field, which was empty at the time of my visit. It has got some lovely lichens growing all over the the sparkly granite.

Saline est menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.338  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: This is a little menhir, probably broken, and not much more than a metre in height, just inside somebodies front garden, but easily visible from the road.

Pointe de Men Maria dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.337  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: This poor little dolmen is walled in within a carpark, which I suppose at least protects it a bit. It is superbly situated on a little headland which seperates the Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys harbour from the beach - a very desireable place apart from the car park.

The dolmen is a simple dolmen with a little corridor, but it is not too easy to make it all out, there was possibly a lot more of it once, and it has probably been much modified. the single capstone is 3 metres by 1.5 metres, and there are half a dozen supports, with various other stones laying about.

Dolmens des Grays

Trip No.203  Entry No.326  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Walking to the west along the coast path from the big carpark near the beach at Penlann headland, and you get to the remains of this large cairn after about 500 metres. It is difficult to make anything out nowadays, other than there are lots of large rocks on the remains of a large mound, overlooking the Villaine estuary. Closer inspection shows this to have once been a large 30 metre diameter cairn, with at least three passage tombs within it, two of which still have a few capstones in position.

Dolmen du Crapaud

Trip No.203  Entry No.325  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Perched on its clifftop, overlooking the sea and a nice sandy beach, from certain angles this does indeed look like a toad poking its head up. Much of the original tomb is no longer with us due to erosion of the cliffs, and what remains is a capstone perched on top of a few small uprights. The capstone is less than 2 metres by 2 metres, but it is in a really splendid position.

The dolmen can be found by walking to the east along the coast path from the big carpark near the beach at Penlann headland.

Gavrinis Cairn

Trip No.203  Entry No.332  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Chambered Cairn Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 10th Jun 2005

Log Text: I took a walk out to the Pointe de Penbert, from where the entrance to the Golfe de Morbihan can clearly be seen, and all the many islands within the gulf. It is a smashing day with a good breeze, and lots and lots of sailing boats are out having fun. There's a cracking tacking duel going on between two large single handed craft as I was writing. It all looks lots and lots of fun.

Just offshore can be seen the islet of Er Lannic, with its double cromlech. Many of the stones stand proud of the island, and indeed the sea, where these half submerged circles are situated, and can clearly be seen from here.

Just beyond that is Gavrinis, with its large cairn and entrance overlooking the whole scene. The entrance seems to be looking directly towards me, although in reality it is probably looking a bit more towards the east. The cairn is clearly visible, looking pale against the dark background of a pinewood. A boat trip of people has just landed on the island for the guided visit to the cairn, with its magnificent carvings.

Dolmen dit Lannek-er-Men

Trip No.203  Entry No.327  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This is a little dolmen sat on a green area outside a very pretty house. It has a little oval chamber, 3 metres by 2 metres, with an entrance to the east where there was perhaps once an entrance passageway. The two capstones sit on several side slabs, and the floor is paved with large stones also, but it is only about half a metre in height.

Bilgroix Point Menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.335  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Modern Stone Circle etc Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 5

Log Text: Right on the tip of the northern headland at the eastern entrance to the Golfe de Morbiihan, is a nice little parkland area. Within this is a nice modern menhir which has been carved into Mama Mari, the lady of the sea. It is most convincing, and it is nice to sit here watching all the boats nipping about with some tremendous overfalls as the tide rushes into the gulf. There is somebody arsing around out there, reversing a yacht out through all the current and waves, which is confusing many people, and there is lots of shouting going on. I could sit here and watch the world go by for hours, but I'd best move on.

Dolmen du Grah-Niol

Trip No.203  Entry No.330  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This initially looks to be an allée-couverte type monument, but which has been dated to about 5000BC, so is much older than a standard allée-couverte. It is still largely within its mound, but was restored in 1936 with the help of lots of concrete.

It is about 11 metres long, and has a stele placed outside of it near to the entrance which is at the east. There is a large end chamber at the west, and also a side chamber. Many of the upright stones have carvings and markings on them, Axes, Palettes, U shapes and squiggles, some of which were clear in the sunlight coming in through a hole in the roof. It seems that many of the stones are supposedly re used from elsewhere, and perhaps the large capstone on the side chamber was once a menhir.

Tumiac tumulus

Trip No.203  Entry No.329  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: As driving towards this from the east, it suddenly appears from behind something, before you arrive at the parking area and information sign beside the road. Whoooa, it’s a biggun ! It is said in legend that it is the place from where Caesar watched a great naval battle out to sea to the south of here, but there is not expected to be any truth in this, although from the top there is a tremendous view all around.

The mound is 86 metres in diameter and 20 metres in height, but it only has a single 4 metre by 2 metre magalithic chamber within it, which has been dated to 4700 BC. The insides of the monument are no longer open to public viewing.

Kermaillard Menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.328  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This 5.2 metre tall menhir, which was re-erected in 1988, stands in a pleasant little grassy area with an information sign. The stone is flat on one side, rounded on the other, and has been shaped to a point at the top. There are carvings on the stone, many small cupules, and near the base of the flat side, a very clear square with a crescent shape protruding from one corner, which reminded me of a saucepan.

Dolmen de la Pointe du Scal

Trip No.203  Entry No.324  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: This site, nearby the Pierre Blanche, is now marked by the ign as a seperate burial chamber besides the Pierre Blanche menhir.

Trehiguier menhir, La Pierre Blanche, is a large white quartz block found down Allée de Megalithe, and at the left just before the end of the road at a boatyard, or fish factory. It is about 2.5 metres high, and 1.5 metres square at the base. About 10 metres away is a large grey slab with some holes, and many other stones which are the remains of megalithic tomb of some kind.

La Pierre Blanche (Trehiguier)

Trip No.203  Entry No.323  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Trehiguier menhir, or Pierre Blanche, is a large white quartz block found down Allée de Megalithe, and at the left just before the end of the road at a boatyard, or fish factory. It is about 2.5 metres high, and 1.5 metres square at the base.

About 10 metres away is a large grey slab with some holes, and many other stones. I dont know whether these other stones are the remains of anything ancient or not. It looks to me like it could be two fallen menhirs, or else a menhir and a tomb of some kind.

Er Lannic

Trip No.203  Entry No.331  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 10th Jun 2005

Log Text: I took a walk out to the Pointe de Penbert, from where the entrance to the Golfe de Morbihan can clearly be seen, and all the many islands within the gulf. It is a smashing day with a good breeze, and lots and lots of sailing boats are out having fun. There's a cracking tacking duel going on between two large single handed craft as I was writing. It all looks lots and lots of fun. Just offshore can be seen the islet of Er Lannic, with its double cromlech. Many of the stones stand proud of the island, and indeed the sea, where these half submerged circles are situated, and can clearly be seen from here.

Petit Mont

Trip No.203  Entry No.336  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 2

Log Text: This enormous cairn, built between 4600 and 2500 BC is on a headland jutting into the sea to the south of the Arzon peninsular. The whole headland is now owned by the local government, and is undergoing major restoration work. The cairn is now well fenced off, and visits were closed for the day when I arrived, so the best I could do was to look at it from a few places through the fence.

There were two large chambers within it originally, with lots of decorations of various types. The whole cairn was much modified by the Germans in 1943 as a part of the Atlantic wall defenses, and concrete bunkers were built within the cairn. These concrete bunkers are being kept, as a valid part of the cairns history and re use.

Île Longue tumulus

Trip No.203  Entry No.333  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 10th Jun 2005

Log Text: I took a walk out to the Pointe de Penbert, from where the entrance to the Golfe de Morbihan can clearly be seen, and all the many islands within the gulf. It is a smashing day with a good breeze, and lots and lots of sailing boats are out having fun. There's a cracking tacking duel going on between two large single handed craft as I was writing. It all looks lots and lots of fun.

Just offshore can be seen the islet of Er Lannic, with its double cromlech. Many of the stones stand proud of the island, and indeed the sea, where these half submerged circles are situated, and can clearly be seen from here. Just beyond that is Gavrinis, with its large cairn and entrance overlooking the whole scene. The entrance seems to be looking directly towards me, although in reality it is probably looking a bit more towards the east. The cairn is clearly visible, looking pale against the dark background of a pinewood. A boat trip of people has just landed on the island for the guided visit to the cairn, with its magnificent carvings.

A bit further away to the west is Isle Longue, with its large tumulus at the south end of the island visible, and beyond that is Locmariaquer, with all its sites.

Bilgroix allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.334  Date Added: 4th May 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 5

Log Text: This is an unusual monument, right near to the end of the northern headland at the entrance to the Golfe de Morbihan, said to date from around 2700BC and unique in western France. It is an allée-couverte with a passage about 10 metres long, but other than a large slab at the back (western) end, it was made completely out of small stone blocks and drystone walling, with capstones placed on top of this. The long mound surrounding the passageway has two drystone walling sections.

The whole monument was later incorporated into defensive ditches and structures on the headland, which no doubt helped with its conservation. It is nowadays set in a delightful garden type area amongst all the houses, and when I was here in early June, it was all awash with brightly coloured flowers of all sorts. Californian poppies, lavatera, pinks, sweet-peas, carnations, marrigolds, daisies, and many others. Absolutely lovely.