Monuments of Prehistory
A unique heritage
The landscape shaped by megalithic architecture has come down through the ages from the fifth millennium BC. Sometimes imposing, sometimes less so, this architectural form still epitomises the foundations of the first organised, hierarchical communities of arable and livestock farmers.
Sites
With over 550 megalithic sites scattered across the Carnac region and southern Morbihan, the area is one of the prime megalithic sites in the world due to the sheer quantity of monuments, their size, the singular nature of their carvings and the archeological wealth of the objects found in them – such as jadeite axes.
skedanoz
Néologisme breton signifiant « nuit scintillante », Skedanoz est un dispositif original pour découvrir les vestiges mégalithiques, en se laissant guider à travers l’épaisseur de la nuit par le halo de lumière que diffusent des « lugstones ». Disposées parmi les mégalithes, les lugstones sont des petites lampes s'allumant et s’éteignant au gré des mouvements, permettant aux visiteurs de serpenter librement entre les pierres, entre obscurité et jeux de lumière.
Yves Coppens
Comment naissent les passions et les vocations ? Le temps d’une balade dans les alignements de Carnac, le célèbre paléoanthropologue raconte le petit garçon qu’il était, courant parmi les menhirs, s’enthousiasmant pour un petit bout d’os trouvé dans la falaise, parcourant la campagne à bicyclette, pour observer dolmens et allées couvertes…
Taking a responsible tour
The megalithic sites in Morbihan form an outstanding heritage which is our joint responsibility. This heritage allows us to imagine Neolithic society and appreciate this monumental architecture which is accessible to all. Many sites are open for tours; others are not, for conservation reasons. All of them are very fragile.
Megalithic terms
Menhir, cromlech, dolmen, tumulus, mound, cairn, alignment… The wealth of megalithic terms is indicative of a scientific process dedicated to providing accurate, precise knowledge.
The association
The “Paysages de mégalithes” association is actively involved in increasing knowledge and in promoting and preserving the megalithic heritage of Carnac and Southern Morbihan.