St Samson Chapel well

Trip No.203  Entry No.560  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Just to the north of the St Samson chapel is a splendid little spring and well house, with clear water bubbling up from within it.

Trémarche menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.559  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Pleasant enough menhir set into a little gravel area at the side of the D.11 road beside the junction at Trémarche a few kilometres to the south of Trégastel. It's about 3 metres high, of rectangular section, and made from a nice pink granite.

Kerguntuil allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.558  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Just about 100 metres upslope from the Kergunteuil dolmen can be found its neighbouring allée couverte, also signposted and kept in a little area. This one again has been incorporated into a field wall at some time in the past, which has no doubt ensured its survival.

It is 8 metres in length, oriented at 070° and has 4 capstones covering the 1.5 metre wide, 1 metre high chamber. The entrance is at the northwest end in the side, but I am not sure if this is the original. Inside the chamber are a few stones with engravings on them, one being particularly spectacular in the middle of the northern side. On it is a row of 6 pairs of outstanding spheres, most of which have a U shape carved beneath them, and which are interpreted as pairs of breasts. There is also another pair higher up. Several "palette" shapes are also carved, and several other symbols. The stone adjacent has a sort of crescent on it. A boat perhaps ? This is an excellent place to visit.

Kerguntuil Dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.557  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This is a large single chambered dolmen, easily found and signposted, and kept in a little fenced off area in a field. It has at times in the more recent past as both a stable and a house. The chamber is about 5 metres by 2 metres, and a good 2 metres in height, all covered with a single large capstone. Three large side supports remain, but the others have been broken up and made into large block walls around the chamber.

There is evidence of a fireplace with chimney, an oven, a doorway with hinges and windows, all created with the stones. Quite a desireable residence in its time, no doubt, and a pleasant and interesting place to visit nowadays. It is still partially below ground level, and much of its mound remains behind it, at the west side.

Keryvon allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.556  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Right beside the D.788 road from Trébeurden to Trégastel, and only feet from the cliff edge is the remains of this dolmen, but it would not surprise me if it is part of what was once an allée couverte. It has a single capstone on side supports only, but there are at least three of them on the south side, and possibly more.

Survival of this has again been helped by it being part of a wall, but I suspect the road has cut off the eastern end. Orientation is 094°. Further into the hedge, and I think that there are a few peristalith stones also.

Prajou-Menhir allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.555  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is a terriffic allée couverte approaching 14 metres long and facing towards its indicator menhir at orientation 103°. Seven capstones of varying sizes are still in place, the two westernmost being the covers for a separate end cell of about 2.5 metres length. Within this end cell are many carvings, including pairs of breasts, cartouches, palettes and many others. Approaching 2 metres wide, it is not much more than a metre in height.

It has probably been helped in its survival by being incorporated into a wall at some stage in the past, but of which all immediate traces have now been removed.

It is easily found in a little grassy area just to the south of the road to Ile Grande, with a signpost, and is a part of a local "Megalith Trail", details of which can be obtained from the local tourist office. There are several other menhirs in this area of land, just above the high tide level and marshy.

Prajou-Menhir menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.554  Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The "indicator menhir" just outside and in front of the allée couverte. It is about 1.7 metres high but nicely weathered.

Ty-Lia (Île Grande)

Trip No.203  Entry No.553  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This looks to be a fairly complete standard allée couverte well signposted and in a little grassy area on Ile-Grande, just off the coast near Trebeurden. It is about 9 metres long by 1.5 metres wide, and oriented to 110°. There are two large capstones which cover most of the chamber. Many of the outer peristalith stones survive, particularly on the southern side and the back end, and there are traces of the mound within them.

Chapelle-des-Sept-Saints

Trip No.203  Entry No.552  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2005

Log Text: I had terrible trouble finding this from the south. The road signs are almost non existent, and very inconsistent, and its all windy lanes and farm tracks. None of the roads, or the names on any of the rare signs seem to agree with the maps. I think the maps are in French, while the signs are in Breton ! I eventually found it by a bit of a fluke, after travelling for a fair distance along a road I was wanting to turn round on, and go back, there it was, right in front of me. That said, when I left, and went northwards, it couldn’t be much problem to find it coming from the north, it seems like one road to get there, and its signposted from the main road.

By the time I got here, it was 7:00 pm, and it was all closed up. However, there was a little sign outside telling you about the place in four languages, one of which was English. The Chapel is built right on top of a dolmen, (Stivel dolmen), and the southern Crypt is within the dolmen itself. The dolmen is a big one, and a registered historic monument, being about 4 metres by 2 metres, made with 4 sidestones and 2 capstones. From the outside, there is a little gated doorway, through which you can see partly into the inside, and the dolmen is plain to see. It has been adapted somewhat for its new role, and I think that there are little statues of the seven saints contained in alcoves within the dolmen.

Now this is one way of Christianising an ancient site !!! although it must be said that the chapel is a place of pilgrimage for Moslems. So, there’s at least three beliefs all coming together at the same place.

Kerelcun Menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.551  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Just off the D.764 road by the hamlet of Kerelcun can be found this nearly 5 metre tall, 3 metre wide menhir, standing in a little green area with a picnic table. It is signposted from the village and easy to find.

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.

Kerampeulven Menhir

Trip No.187  Entry No.87  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 10th Sep 1987. My rating: Access 5

Log Text: Cycling camping trip round Brittany 1987 day 11. Day at Huelgoat, cycle to Carhaix to get bike fixed in afternoon. Many strange shaped rocks, and a large menhir with modern ish carvings

Kerampeulven Menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.549  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Just to the north of the village of Huelgoat, well known for its lake and strange shaped rocks, is this lovely menhir which is signposted from the road to Berrien, and is easy to find. Its about 5 metres tall, and a lovely shape, set in a little grassy area with some nicely shaded picnic tables. At some time in the past local quarrymen have engraved little pictures onto it. There is a house and several animals, plus a few other shapes and things. The animals are quite jolly.

Ty ar Boudiquet Dolmen

Trip No.187  Entry No.81  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 9th Sep 1987. My rating: Condition 5 Access 5

Log Text: Cycling camping trip round Brittany 1987 day 10. Cycle from Telgruc up over the moors to Huelgoat.

St-Guinec menhir

Trip No.187  Entry No.82  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 9th Sep 1987. My rating: Condition 5 Access 5

Log Text: Cycling camping trip round Brittany 1987 day 10. Cycle from Telgruc up over the moors to Huelgoat.

St-Guinec menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.548  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Despite being nearly 6 metres tall, this beautiful menhir is becoming obscured from view by a large thick hedge around the garden within which it stands. This is a shame, as it really is a rather nice stone. It can be found just off the Huelgoat to Brennilis road, by the bridge over the busy north / south D.764 highway.

Alignement de Leintant

Trip No.203  Entry No.547  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Couldn't find on 23rd Jun 2005

Log Text: Row of fallen menhirs now incorporated into a bank at the edge of a field. I could find no trace of this alignment, supposed to contain one standing and three fallen menhirs, which was said to align on mid-summer sunrise. I found the farm, and went up and down the road several times, with no luck. Supposedly, the standing stone is nearly 4 metres tall and beside the road.....

Leintant menhir

Trip No.203  Entry No.546  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: Three metre tall menhir, which was probably once part of the nearby alignment.

Ty ar Boudiquet Dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.545  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: What a lovely monument this is! It's one of my favourites. It is easy to find, just at the northern edge of Brennilis village and clearly signposted, it has a little car park, a picnic area and it lives in a lovely large green and shady area, all very nicely looked after and with birdies tweeting away.

It is a rare dolmen in V form, which is thought to be a transitional stage between dolmens with entry passages (dolmen a couloir) and allée couvertes. It has been dated to about 3000BC.

It is almost complete, and has most of its earthern mound still with it, only a part of the back end has been destroyed by having a wall built through it. The chamber is about 14 metres long and varies in width from about 1 metre wide at the entrance, to nearly 3 metres at full width. The height also varies from about a metre to stand up height. The chamber opens at 125°. The main part of the is covered with three massive capstones, and has within it a standing stone which does not quite reach the roof. Perhaps a stele, but not smoothed and sculpted, or perhaps the remains of an internal wall.

Outside the chamber, the mound is almost complete, and even comes with most of its surrounding peristalith of stones. It is of an oval shape, approximately 17 metres long by 6 metres wide, and still up to 3 metres in height. Unfortunately the back end is cut by a wall and field boundary. The fairies house really is just that. A beautiful place for the little people to live.

An-Eured-Ven

Trip No.203  Entry No.544  Date Added: 2nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 23rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: On the high moorland to the southwest of the St Michel reservoir, in the bowl below the Montagnes d'Arrée to the southeast of Mont St Michel, can be found some rows of white quartz stones, the name of which, An-Eured-Ven, translates to something approximating the wedding stones dance.

I found a couple of hundred metre long, slightly curved line of white quartz blocks running along the ridgetop just to the south of the lake, the alignment of which varies from 078° to 085° as you go from west to east. Further thoughts on what I found, and I think its perhaps more like two straight rows which converge on a point, or a kinked row, rather than curved. At the kink there is a collection of larger stones which may at one point have been significant. At the eastern end the stones are bigger, and the last stone I found is positioned across the end of the row rather like a Dartmoor blocking stone. The row does not align on St Michel Hill, nor at this eastern end go along the top of the ridge as it runs away at 279°. The western end of the row just seems to fade away into the undergrowth.

Further looking around and I found another line of stones about 100 metres to the north, and which looks to be on an approximately parallel course to the first row. There are lots of other blocks of stone to be seen in amongst the heather, I wonder if a full survey has ever been done here ?

From on top of St Michel Hill, using binoculars, the two rows of stones can clearly be seen, but they form a sort of V shape, with the point towards the east. There is a group of schoolchildren out amongst the rows, with musicians and storytellers. What a great lesson they must be having.