Carnac

A popular seaside resort in Quiberon Bay, Brittany, France, 144 km southwest of Rennes. Carnac is famous for the 7,000 years old, 4 km long, Megalithic Site with more than 3,000 standing stones also known as menhirs. The Carnac site is older than Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids in Egypt, hence the most important prehistoric site in Europe.

Stroll Carnac charming town center (Carnac-Ville) to enjoy the small shops and the Wednesday and Sunday town markets. Visit the St Cornely church and the Carnac Musee de Prehistoire, the Prehistory Museum home to one of Europe’s best collections of prehistoric items and displays of Neolithic day to day life, including a collections of artifacts found in the region from the Bronze and Iron Age through to the Roman period.

Carnac sea stretch includes five sandy beaches including the Grande Plage, the 2 km long beach popular upon families, having two children’s clubs, the Carnac Yacht Club and various water sports facilities. Legenese and Ty Bihan beaches are smaller and less crowded, Saint-Colomban beach is popular with Wind and Kite surfers, and Men Du beach is the furthest of all.
Between the town and the beaches relax in a park with various play area, gardens, and more. 17 km south of Carnac visit the Quiberon Peninsula and the 18 km long Quiberon Island, with its rugged coastline and sandy beaches, fishing villages and rich cultural history.

The Megalithic Sites of Carnac include more than 3,000 standing stones from the Neolithic period circa 5,000 years BC, arranged in a preplanned array, part of 4 km long two major sites, Menec and Kermario. The Granite stones in both sites are arranged as an array of single standing stones (Menhirs), Burial mounds (Tumuli), and Dolmen structures of two standing stones with additional one on top, which was probably used as a tomb. The purpose of the sites is not clear, where theories vary between astronomical measure indicating the yearly season’s periods, a religious/social assembly area, burial grounds and more.

Visiting Carnac for the magnificent and mysterious Megalithic Sites will require half a day, unless you plan to enjoy the seaside resort, then additional few days of beach, sun, swimming, and watersports will be great. The best way to visit the Carnac Megalithic sites is by car, where between April and September, visit within the site is possible only as part of locally organized 1 hour tour.