Megaliths near Vannes
Megaliths are large monuments of rough stone. There are several types: cairn, dolmen, menhir, covered walkway, etc.
Good to know: a menhir indicates a sacred place, while a dolmen has a funerary significance. There are many megaliths in Brittany, particularly near Vannes!
One of a kind, the Gavrinis cairn was built over 6,000 years ago, at the height of the Neolithic period. It is a funerary monument whose distinctive feature is its superb engraved decoration.
The dimensions of the monument are remarkable: 50 metres in diameter and 6 metres high! It has been dubbed the "Sistine Chapel of the Neolithic".
To reach the island of Gavrinis, you can take a speedboat from the port of Larmor-Baden (15-minute crossing).
Fare for crossing + guided tour of the monument: €19/adult, €8 (10-17 years and students), €4/children aged 4 to 10.
Further information: https://cairndegavrinis.com
This is a group of three megalithic monuments:
Route de Kerlogonan, 56740 Locmariaquer.
Nestling in the hinterland of the Vannes region, the Landes de Lanvaux offer a wild and unspoilt landscape. Here you can discover three megaliths:
Famous the world over, the alignments of Carnac are a unique site containing no fewer than 3,000 6,000-year-old menhirs - the largest concentration of megaliths in the world!
The most famous alignments are those at Le Ménec, with almost 1,100 menhirs, and the Kermario alignments. Don't hesitate to visit the Maison des Mégalithes to find out more about these historic monuments.
Self-guided tours of the sites.
Our two-star hotel is located in the centre of Vannes, just 150 metres from the station.
In a peaceful setting, our Anne de Bretagne hotel offers 20 beautifully decorated rooms in soft, contemporary tones. You'll love the nods to Brittany!
Early in the morning, head to the breakfast room to treat yourself to tasty, largely local products:
Book your hotel in Vannes now and discover the beauty of Brittany's heritage!
Good to know: a menhir indicates a sacred place, while a dolmen has a funerary significance. There are many megaliths in Brittany, particularly near Vannes!
Three sites where you can see megaliths near Vannes
The Gavrinis cairn on the Isle of Gavrinis
One of a kind, the Gavrinis cairn was built over 6,000 years ago, at the height of the Neolithic period. It is a funerary monument whose distinctive feature is its superb engraved decoration.
The dimensions of the monument are remarkable: 50 metres in diameter and 6 metres high! It has been dubbed the "Sistine Chapel of the Neolithic".
To reach the island of Gavrinis, you can take a speedboat from the port of Larmor-Baden (15-minute crossing).
Fare for crossing + guided tour of the monument: €19/adult, €8 (10-17 years and students), €4/children aged 4 to 10.
Further information: https://cairndegavrinis.com
The Site of Megaliths at Locmariaquer
This is a group of three megalithic monuments:
- The Er Grah tumulus: a monumental individual burial site
- The great broken menhir: at 20.60m long, it's the largest stele in Europe!
- The Table des Marchands dolmen: a corridor tomb made up of two engraved slabs.
Route de Kerlogonan, 56740 Locmariaquer.
The megaliths of the Landes de Lanvaux
Nestling in the hinterland of the Vannes region, the Landes de Lanvaux offer a wild and unspoilt landscape. Here you can discover three megaliths:
- The covered alleyway of the loge au loup, an impressive 9 metres long. It was built more than 4,500 years ago, in the centre of the Coëby forest.
- Gargantua's cattail menhir, in the Croix-Pin forest. This 6-metre-high granite stone stands next to a group of 4 smaller menhirs.
- The two cairns at Larcuste
Carnac Stones
30 km from the hotelFamous the world over, the alignments of Carnac are a unique site containing no fewer than 3,000 6,000-year-old menhirs - the largest concentration of megaliths in the world!
The most famous alignments are those at Le Ménec, with almost 1,100 menhirs, and the Kermario alignments. Don't hesitate to visit the Maison des Mégalithes to find out more about these historic monuments.
Self-guided tours of the sites.
Your hotel near Vannes station
Our two-star hotel is located in the centre of Vannes, just 150 metres from the station.
In a peaceful setting, our Anne de Bretagne hotel offers 20 beautifully decorated rooms in soft, contemporary tones. You'll love the nods to Brittany!
Early in the morning, head to the breakfast room to treat yourself to tasty, largely local products:
- Apple juice from the Cidrerie du Golfe
- Home-made cakes
- Local cheeses
- Freshly squeezed orange juice
- Bread and brioches from a bakery in Vannes
Book your hotel in Vannes now and discover the beauty of Brittany's heritage!
