Dolmens and menhirsLegendary stonesancestral beliefs

Druid and Menhir on the Pink Granite Coast

Menhirs and dolmens of Brittany: Legends and beliefs

Between history and legends, discover how these thousand-year-old stones have nourished the imagination of Bretons for centuries. From Celtic beliefs to Arthurian legends and popular superstitions, plunge into the fascinating world of Brittany’s megaliths. Open the doors to the hidden treasures of menhirs and dolmens and, why not, meet the Korrigans!

A feature of the Breton landscape since Neolithic times, dolmens and menhirs have imbued the beliefs of the Celtic peoples of Armorique: a supernatural link between gods, ancestors and druids.
Over the centuries, the megaliths of Brittany have fed the popular imagination and given rise to fascinating legends. These mysterious stones are said to be the work of giants, fairies or korrigans, the mischievous little creatures of Breton mythology.

Allée couverte de l'île Milliau à Trébeurden

Korrigans Dancing On The Moor Atop Dune Cliffs 5

Allee Couverte De Lile Grande Noemie Parlouer

Megaliths, legends and folk tales

Menhirs are omnipresent in the tales and legends of Brittany. Dolmens are often described as mysterious and dangerous places, inhabited by fantastic creatures. Some legends evoke treasures hidden inside dolmens, while others tell of megaliths as places of passage between the world of the living and that of the dead. These ancestral beliefs have endured over the centuries, adding a mystical and mysterious dimension to these thousand-year-old monuments.

The korrigans

Breton legend has it that on the nights of the full moon, these mischievous little creatures emerge from the bowels of the earth and dance around the dolmens dominating the Breton moors. Don’t be tempted to join in this magical and mysterious circle, for at the first ray of sunlight, they’ll take you underground, with their treasures, for a fest-noz that will last a century.

The fairies

Fairies are also linked to menhirs. They are sometimes depicted as guardians of these monuments, capable of bestowing blessings or inflicting curses on men. In the Côtes d’Armor region, legend has it that fairies transported stones destined for the construction of Mont-Saint-Michel. But alas, overcome by fatigue, they dropped them one by one onto the moor, forming a megalithic alignment.

The giants

Giants are also blamed for building the megaliths. Their footprints can be seen on some of the stones, and their voices can still be heard in the covered walkways.

Megaliths and King Arthur: an unlikely marriage?

At first glance, it may seem surprising to link megaliths, remnants of a Neolithic civilization, with Arthurian legends, often associated with medieval chivalry. Yet these two worlds have intertwined over the centuries, creating fascinating tales on the Pink Granite Coast.

Megaliths as geographical landmarks

According to versions of the Arthurian legends, megaliths serve as geographical landmarks for travelers to the Kingdom of Logres. They also point the way to Camelot, the seat of the Grail, and King Arthur’s tomb on the Ile d’Aval in Pleumeur-Bodou.

Megaliths as places of power

Megaliths are often described as places of power, where Arthurian heroes come to seek strength and wisdom, notably the Knights of the Round Table on their quest for the Grail. They may be associated with enchantments or prophecies.

Megaliths and the fairytale world

The Arthurian world is populated by fantastic creatures such as fairies and giants, not forgetting Merlin, Merzhin in Breton, who is often associated with megaliths. According to legend, Stonehenge was built by a giant under Merlin’s orders, and his tomb is a menhir in the heart of the Brocéliande forest. Fairies, dragons and giants are also associated with megaliths in Breton folk tales.

Druid and Menhir on the Pink Granite Coast 3

Megaliths and Druidic beliefs

Although the Druids lived long after the megaliths were built, they are often associated with these monuments. This association is due to several factors:

The sacred nature of the site

Druids were Celtic priests who worshipped nature. Megaliths, as monuments rooted in the landscape, were naturally associated with their cults.

The mystery surrounding both

Both druids and megaliths are shrouded in mystery. This similarity has reinforced their association in the popular imagination.

Romanticism

In the 19th century, Romanticism reinforced this association by creating an idealized image of druids and megaliths.

Megaliths, a living heritage

The legends associated with megaliths are far from static. They continue to evolve with artistic and literary creations, archaeological discoveries and new interpretations. Megaliths have thus become powerful symbols of Breton identity, a living heritage handed down from generation to generation.

Menhirs and dolmens

of the Pink Granite Coast