|
Barnenez
Cairn From Morlaix take the road beside the right of the marina northwards on the D76 for about 8km to Plouézoch, carry on straight here. The site is signed but some are small especially the one on the left turn as you near the site. Admission is 4 Euros and you get an information sheet that you have to give back that details the site. There is a small exhibition area by the ticket office.
This is a huge cairn built in steps and is an impressive site built on high ground with views all around. There are eleven passage graves all in line under the enormous cairn that is aligned NE to SW. The structure is very old and dates back to 4400BC and this gives a clear impression of the skills and abilities of the early builders. The stonework is all visible, especially the section that was quarried away where the end chambers are revealed.
There are two distinct stepped pyramids, the oldest constructed in local dolerite stone and the later in grey granite brought from the nearby Ile de Sterec. Each rises in successive tiers built around tiers made from large flat stones with smaller stones as their infill. The whole structure is about 70m long and varies between 15 to 25m in width and the present height is 6m. It was originally covered in a low mound of soil that has since eroded away.
Most of the passages have been sealed of for safety reasons and you can see cracked capstones even on one of the open ones. Unfortunately the carved stones are not there and just three copies of the main ones are on show near the ticket office.
By
the ticket office |
||
|
Ille-et-Vilaine Morbihan Carnac Finistère Côte du Nord Brittany |
