Er Lannic, island in France
Er Lannic is a small island near Arzon featuring two large Neolithic stone enclosures that are partially submerged. The southern circle measures around 61 meters across, the northern one about 66 meters, both consisting of approximately 114 standing stones set into the earth for ceremonial or religious purposes.
These stone circles were built in the Neolithic period, thousands of years ago, possibly serving as burial or ceremonial sites. In the early 20th century, archaeologist Zacharie le Rouzic studied the structures and partially reconstructed them, uncovering thousands of pottery fragments and special pedestal-based cups.
Er Lannic bears a name rooted in Breton tradition and reveals through its stone arrangement how early inhabitants valued ritual spaces. The positioning between other ancient monuments suggests this island was part of a larger spiritual network that shaped the cultural landscape.
The island is now a bird reserve and visitors cannot land, but the stone circles are visible from boat trips. The best time to visit is at low tide when more of the structures emerge from the water, and it is recommended to bring water and provisions since there are no facilities on the island.
A remarkable feature is that one of the stone circles is only visible at low tide due to sea level rise since ancient times. This transformation shows how the landscape has changed over thousands of years and makes each visit a visual journey through geological history.
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