Paimpont forest, Medieval forest in Ille-et-Vilaine, France
The 9,000-hectare woodland spans across three departments, featuring a diverse landscape of oak and beech trees, heathlands, ponds, and red schist outcrops.
The forest housed the largest wood-fired forges in Brittany during the 18th century, utilizing local iron ore deposits and an extensive water network.
The Paimpont Forest corresponds to the mythical Brocéliande of Arthurian literature, introduced by Chrétien de Troyes in the late 12th century.
Access to hiking trails and legendary sites becomes restricted from September to March due to forestry work and hunting seasons.
The Fountain of Barenton maintains its medieval characteristic of cold bubbling, with bubble chains regularly rising to its surface.
Location: Ille-et-Vilaine
Location: Morbihan
Location: Côtes-d'Armor
Address: 35380 Paimpont, France 35380 Paimpont
Phone: +33299078423
Website: http://tourisme-broceliande.com
GPS coordinates: 48.01667,-2.16667
Latest update: July 23, 2025 17:21
France features a notable variety of protected natural areas, showcasing the country’s geological and ecological richness. From Lake Allos in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to the underground rivers of Padirac in Dordogne, from the mountain ranges of Savoy to the limestone formations of the Ardèche gorges, each region displays landscapes shaped over millennia of natural evolution. This collection gathers sites where nature is expressed freely: primary forests, karst systems, high-altitude lakes, moving dunes of the Atlantic coast, and rock formations carved by erosion. These areas provide diverse ecosystems, home to species adapted to different environments, from Alpine flora and fauna to dune communities and underground cave biodiversity. Each natural site in this selection serves as an open-air laboratory where geological processes, ecosystem dynamics, and living adaptation to local conditions can be observed. These sites invite discovery of authentic landscapes, removed from human impact, where geological time is evident in every rock formation and glacier valley.
Halloween becomes an annual major event across France. Theme parks like Disneyland Paris, Parc Astérix, and Futuroscope create special environments with seasonal decorations, themed shows, and attractions suitable for all ages. Families can enjoy special menus in restaurants and meet costumed characters that animate the walkways. Cultural heritage sites also participate by organizing night visits. The Paris Catacombs reveal their underground history through guided tours after dark. The Château de Combourg welcomes visitors to its medieval halls with historical stories, while the Citadel of Bitche transforms its military galleries into theatrical settings. Museums also join the festivities: the Rodin Museum highlights its Gates of Hell with sound and visual effects. Natural sites like the Balme Caves host thematic exhibitions, and even the Thoiry Zoo invites visitors to observe animals during specially arranged evening events.
Tombeau de Merlin
7.7 km
Château de Comper
6 km
Fontaine de Barenton
6.5 km
Forges de Paimpont
3.2 km
Hotié de Viviane
7.8 km
Tombeau des Géants
8.1 km
Hêtre de Ponthus
6.4 km
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Paimpont
632 m
Chapelle Saint-Jean de Campénéac
7.3 km
Musée de l'Officier
8 km
Église Saint-Malo de Saint-Malo-de-Beignon
6.5 km
Alignements de la Prise de Comper
6.4 km
Notre-Dame (Paimpont)
596 m
Croix de cimetière de Saint-Malo-de-Beignon
6.6 km
Maîtresse-vitre de l'église Saint-Pierre de Beignon
5.2 km
La Fontaine de Jouvence
7.8 km
Église Saint-Pierre de Plélan-le-Grand
5.1 km
Église Saint-Pierre de Beignon
5.1 km
Fontaine Sainte Apolline
8.2 km
Château d'eau de Point-Clos
7.3 km
Église Saint-Laurent de Concoret
6.1 km
Statue de Saint-Méen
601 m
Château de Brocéliande
2.9 km
Statue de Saint-Judicaël
604 m
Chêne des Hindrés
6.8 km
Maison Lamy
6 km
Maître-autel de l'église abbatiale Notre-Dame de Paimpont
596 m
Paimpont Notre-Dame church, wooden panelings
609 mReviews
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