La Roche-aux-Fées, Prehistoric dolmen in Essé, France
The megalithic structure stretches 20 meters in length, features 48 stone blocks, and includes two separate chambers connected by a covered passage.
Built between 3000 and 2500 BC, this passage grave demonstrates the advanced construction capabilities of Neolithic communities in arranging massive stone blocks.
The name translates to 'The Fairies' Rock' due to local tales suggesting supernatural beings transported and arranged the stones in a single night.
Located at the Maison de la Roche-aux-Fées Visitor Centre, the site provides guided tours, discovery booklets, and mobile applications for educational experiences.
The entrance corridor aligns with the winter solstice sunrise, creating a natural light display that illuminates the internal passageway on December 21.
Location: Essé
Elevation above the sea: 74 m
GPS coordinates: 47.93654,-1.40488
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:39
Throughout France, stone silhouettes still stand in fields, forests, or by the sea. They existed long before villages and roads, witnesses to a world that believed in the sky and hidden forces of the earth. These menhirs, erected over five thousand years ago, in their own way narrate the dawn of civilizations. Some are solitary, others are arranged in rows of hundreds. Some bear engraved faces, others remain silent, smoothed by Breton winds or the rain of the Central Massif. From Carnac to Corsica, from Poitou to the Côtes-d’Armor, these upright stones maintain a strong presence, almost human. Approaching them, one senses the ancient connection between human hands and the memory of the land.
Brittany combines medieval architecture with natural landscapes. The region features cliffs, forests, lighthouses, and coastal villages. Visitors find Celtic megaliths, castles, abbeys, and maritime museums. The coast displays granite formations, bays, and islands. Inland areas contain canals, gardens, and historic estates.
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