Menhir de Coat Mocun nord

Trip No.203  Entry No.550  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Couldn't find on 23rd Jun 2005

Log Text: Supposedly 8 metres tall, and re-erected recently when they built the new road, I could not find this. I asked an old gent with a straw hat and waving a stick, who was pushing a wheelbarrow of grass. He took great delight in telling me how I could get to see it, although it was on private land, but he was fairly difficult to understand. From what I did understand, I thought he said it was in a quarry area, I had several looks, from various points of attack, but could not find it. Bummer.

Croazou chapel stèles

Trip No.203  Entry No.525  Date Added: 28th May 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 21st Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: This is an odd little place where many thousands of years of ritual and worship can all be seen together. In the middle of a fairly busy road junction is built a little chapel which is said to be the smallest in Finistère.

This chapel has been built onto a stèle with it still standing there at one of the back corners about 2 metres tall. Outside the back wall are three medieval crosses positioned on top of a fallen menhir supposedly in all being in their original positions. Around the outside of the chapel is also a fairly recent collection of other crosses from the region which includes one intriguing cross which has been mounted on the top portion of what was obviously once a lovely iron age stele with wonderful shaping and patterns carved into it.

Croazou chapel

Trip No.214  Entry No.6  Date Added: 28th May 2020
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 16th Apr 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Driving away from Men-Marz through the maze like country lanes and after about 10 mins I thought I was completely lost, and then all of a sudden I arrived at the road junction with this little chapel in the middle of it. Aha, fabulous, I hadn't intended coming here as there was no time, but now I'm here, better have a quick look. It's probably best not to just abandon your car in the middle of the junction, but I thought it would be OK for a few minutes!

This odd little chapel is said to be the smallest in Finistère, and is a place where many thousands of years of ritual and worship can all be seen together. The chapel has been built onto a stèle or menhir with it still standing there at one of the back corners about 2 metres tall. Outside the back wall are three medieval crosses positioned on top of a fallen menhir supposedly in all being in their original positions. Around the outside of the chapel is also a fairly recent collection of other crosses from the region which includes one intriguing cross which has been mounted on the top portion of what was obviously once a lovely iron age stele with wonderful shaping and patterns carved into it.

The door to the chapel was unlocked, so I had a quick butchers inside, but it was slightly disappointing in that the corner menhir could not be seen from inside.

Croazou chapel menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.526  Date Added: 28th May 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 21st Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This is an odd little place where many thousands of years of ritual and worship can all be seen together. In the middle of a fairly busy road junction is built a little chapel which is said to be the smallest in Finistère. This chapel has been built onto a stèle with it still standing there at one of the back corners about 2 metres tall.

Outside the back wall are three medieval crosses positioned on top of a fallen menhir supposedly in all being in their original positions. Around the outside of the chapel is also a fairly recent collection of other crosses from the region which includes one intriguing cross which has been mounted on the top portion of what was obviously once a lovely iron age stele with wonderful shaping and patterns carved into it.

Men-Marz

Trip No.214  Entry No.5  Date Added: 28th May 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 16th Apr 2014. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Had to bring Dad to see this fantastic menhir which is found to the north of Brignogan-Plage village and found by following plentiful signs. Men-Marz is set in a nice little area which has an information centre across the road with lots of informative boards.

At more than 8.5 metres high it is said to be the fourth largest menhir still standing in France. It is a strange shaped beast as are the natural rocks around here and looks to be a thin and straight beast when seen from front and back but is a sort of triangular shape when seen from the sides with multiple cavities and ledges in the sides.

The stone has suffered from Christianising vandalism on at least two occasions as it not only has a granite cross mounted on the top but there is also an engraved cross on the south-eastern corner about 1.5 metres from the ground. This stone has many legends attached to it which seem to get a bit mixed up and confused. There is a ledge high up on the south side which today had a lot of loose stones on it, attached to which are legends concerning marriage or childbirth. Both myself and Dad failed to land our stones on the ledge!

Barnenez Cairn

Trip No.214  Entry No.12  Date Added: 29th May 2020
Site Type: Chambered Cairn Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 16th Apr 2014. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: After our visit to Ile Carn, we really had to pay a visit to this, to show Dad the sanitised version of one of these big Brittany Cairns, and just how big they can get. Unfortunately, we arrived just after 5:00, and the man would not let us in, saying that yes, it is open till 5:30, but last entrance was before 5:00 (now about €5:50).

Never mind, we had time to wander round the outside, and although the fence and hedges now prevent any view from the south or east, from the north most of the cairn can be seen through a few gaps from where the cairn 2 is. I am not sure how many of the 11 passages and chambers can be entered these days, as most look closed off. However, for our purposes, this was enough of a visit really; as Dad said, it wouldn't be as good as the one out on the island.

Bez An Inkinerez

Trip No.193  Entry No.22  Date Added: 13th Jul 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Couldn't find on 31st May 1993

Log Text: Cycling camping trip of north Brittany, day 3. Breton Corniche, Treburden, Lannion, Corniche Armorique to Primel Tregastel. Had a quick look for this but to no avail.

Pointe de Primel menhir

Trip No.193  Entry No.24  Date Added: 13th Jul 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 31st May 1993

Log Text: Cycling camping trip of north Brittany, day 3. Breton Corniche, Treburden, Lannion, Corniche Armorique to Primel Tregastel. Wonderful camp-site right on the Pointe de Primel, so I went to look for this menhir marked on the map. I don't remember finding it, so perhaps it was still fallen back then, or it was the dolmen I couldn't find and the menhir was of lesser interest. After a beer and shower, we cycled for an ace meal round the other side of the bay at Le Diben, where I made the waitress laugh because of my Quebec accent and expressions!

Pointe De Primel Dolmen

Trip No.193  Entry No.25  Date Added: 13th Jul 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Couldn't find on 31st May 1993

Log Text: Cycling camping trip of north Brittany, day 3. Breton Corniche, Treburden, Lannion, Corniche Armorique to Primel Tregastel. Wonderful camp-site right on the Pointe de Primel, so I went to look for this dolmen marked on the map, but I couldn't find it under the undergrowth. After a beer and shower, we cycled for an ace meal round the other side of the bay at Le Diben, where I made the waitress laugh because of my Quebec accent and expressions!

Kerivin Dolmen

Trip No.193  Entry No.32  Date Added: 13th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 1st Jun 1993

Log Text: Cycling camping trip of north Brittany, day 4. Primel, Barnenez, picnic by Morlaix river. Carantec, St Pol de Leon, Roscoff. Overnight ferry back to Plymouth.

Champ Dolent Menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.602  Date Added: 13th Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 28th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 5

Log Text: This is a glorious 9 metre tall shaped and sculpted granite menhir, the stone for which has been brought here from over 4 kilometres away. It stands high on a little hillock overlooking the ancient city of Dol, with the rock which has been inhabited for many thousands of years just beyond that. At its base is another small and polished stone, the origins of which are unknown.

Looking carefully at parts of the stone in the shadow, and it wouldn't surprise me if there are carvings on it. Having seen St Samson, it seems possible to make out various crosses and lines and daggers. Or is this just me seeing things now ?

This is of course another stone surrounded by legends and folklore. It is said to be here to commemorate a great battle perhaps. It is also said that it was thrown down from the sky by an over seeing being in order to separate two fighting brothers. Whatever, it is a most wonderful stone. Come and see it for yourselves.

Château Bû

Trip No.203  Entry No.5  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Chambered Cairn Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: This is now fenced off to prevent the massive erosion which was happening but clearly visible although becoming a little overgrown. Just what the heck is it ? A chambered tumulus with entrance to the east but with a stone circle on the top and also 3 or more large white menhirs. Most strange. Like nothing I have seen before at all. Sort of like three or four monuments in one all on top of each other.

Dolmen Ouest de la Croix de Saint-Pierre

Trip No.203  Entry No.8  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Another fenced off but recently restored mound with a round cairn enclosing a chamber which opens to the east.

Croix St Pierre east

Trip No.203  Entry No.6  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Chambered Cairn Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: A large long mound with two large dolmenic chambers within it opening to the side and also a smaller one near one end. This has been excavated and restored in 1990/91 and was dated to 3500 to 4000 BC. As with all of these chambers it is fenced off to keep the masses out.

Le Four Sarrazin

Trip No.203  Entry No.10  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: A little ruined allée couverte in a mound at the western end of the Saint Just megalithic wonderland almost overlooking the gorge down to the river. The chamber is aligned roughly east west on 109° with the entrance being near the east end on the southern side. There are three remaining fallen capstones one of which has a fine pattern of cupules in its underside. It has been dated to 2500 BC.

Demoiselles de Langon

Trip No.203  Entry No.14  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Found near to the stadium in the village of Langon and signposted from the main street These alignements consist of between 30 and 40 white quartz stone blocks in a field. Though I have read somewhere about them being arranged in two rows this most definitely isn’t the case. I have also read about them being astronomically aligned but to me they seem quite randomly scattered about! Many intersecting lines of 4 or 5 stones perhaps but nothing obvious. It would be nice to see a plan of this place to see if I could make more sense of the stones. There are probably many more stones that have been removed or are hiding in people’s gardens or under hedges.

Gaudinais megalithes

Trip No.203  Entry No.15  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Long Barrow Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: A signpost to Vestiges Megalithiques de La Gaudinais points down a gravel track to this from the main street on the west side of the village of Langon so I just had to go and have a look. I have no idea what I found or even whether it is the proper megalithic remains but I had a good look around.

What I found was a sort of embanked rectangle of stones in woodland a bit like a small version of King Arthur’s Hall on Bodmin Moor. The dimensions of this rectangle are about 16 metres by 6 metres with the long axis on an alignment of 090°. I later found that this is the remains of a rectangular tumulus, with stones set around the outside, similar to that at Les Demoiselles. There are also the remains of two further tumulus mounds here, but in muxch less well preserved condition.

Alignements du Moulin S

Trip No.203  Entry No.2  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: There are two long roughly parallel lines running east west with a third less well defined row to the southwest running in a north south direction. The first row reached is the northernmost and consists of at least 14 large white quartz blocks with a few grey stones in it as well with an alignment of 099°. One of the large stones towards the western end has been used at some later stage as a part of a burial chamber with at least two burial cists to be seen adjacent to it.

Just to the south of this row is another row, with an alignment of 111° but this time consisting of taller thinner stones of various types and colours, which get bigger in size towards the middle where the row runs over a cairn and then get smaller again. The stones start off about a metre high but the stones in the middle are up to 5 metres tall. These central stones alternate between white blocks and black blocks of stone with various other colours and shapes being mixed in as well. I absolutely love this row. It is completely bonkers. So weird. The whole place is odd and not like anything else I have seen. Large white blocks and tall thin black stones. All mixed up and running across this ridge.

The third row I found consists of about 5 white quartz blocks to the west of the ends of the two main rows and running in a north south direction. I am not sure if this is the third row considered to be a part of these same alignments. All three rows appear to converge on a point to the northwest. They have started to clear the gorse away from these stones and I disturbed a large vividly coloured green lizard at one point here.

Le Tribunal

Trip No.203  Entry No.9  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: What is now an arc of 9 large white stones is the remains of what was once a 15 stone semicircle facing towards a single large white stone (the Judge) about 50 metres to the east. This is said to be an astronomical alignment of some kind. One of the stones at the southern end of the Tribunal is the most fantastically marked stone with black and white swirls everywhere.

I met some Americans here one of who asked if I knew anything much about the stones as she could see I was taking notes. They had been looking for information on the internet and had found about Saint Just being a focal point of many Ley lines. She had also found the megalithic portal. When I told them what I was doing they made sure they took my picture with some stones in action taking notes and said they would send the picture on. They also wanted my autograph on their little leaflet and map that they had ! A nice moment.

La Roche Piquée (Baudouinais)

Trip No.204  Entry No.325  Date Added: 16th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: A few kilometres to the west of the village of Livré-sur-Changeon, and a few kilometres to the south of the little town of St-Aubin-du-Cormier, near to the hamlet of Baudouinais can be seen this menhir marked on some of my maps as Pierre Piquée. It is signposted, and after a little walk along a farm track it can be seen across the fields. When I visited, the field was well fenced off, and full of cows, so I didn't get to visit the stone properly, but I would estimate it to be about 4 metres tall.