Bretagne-Menhirs, Morbihan, Merlin, and a Medieval castle 7/29- 30

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During our final two days in St. Jacques-de-la-Lande we visited Carnac, The Gulf of Morbihan, Arradon, Vannes, Fougeres, and Broceliande (Forest of Paimpont).

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Photos

Cyndi and Dean in the Jardin Public
This garden is located on a hill in back of the Church of St. Leonard which overlooks the castle in Fougeres. The Chateau de Fougeres is one of Europe's largest medieval castles. This castle near the Normandy border defended Brittany for 1000 years. It had many towers and 3 fortified enclosures.

Chateau de Fougeres
This was the view from the base of the castle's exterior walls.

Jackie, Jeff, and Dean at Chateau de Fougeres,
Jackie, Jeff, and Dean out side of castle's walls.

Cyndi is standing near tannery canal.
This canal was used by tanners, and was located outside of Chateau de Fougeres near the moat.

Chateau de Fougeres' water wheels
Multiple water wheels which are near the moat.

Jeff and Jackie at Chateau de Fougeres
Jeff and Jackie are on the ramparts overlooking castle entrance.

Carnac
Jeff, Dean, and Jackie standing near Menhirs, (up right stones). Some of the configurations date back to around 4,500 B.C. (Neolithic, pre-Celtic people of Brittany). The menhir stones are usually standing in lines (alignements). Sometimes they form a circle. There are over 3000 menhirs in this region of France. The stones range from about 3feet to 20 feet high.

Carnac passage tomb
Jeff, Dean, and Jackie standing inside a passage tomb.

Jeff, and Jackie near a small menhir
Jeff, and Jackie standing on the passage tomb near a menhir.

Arradon
Jackie, Jeff, and Dean overlooking the Gulf of Morbihan. Arradon is a small town on the Gulf of Morbihan (Morbihan means "little sea"). The Gulf of Morbihan is an inland sea in the south of Brittany.

Jeff, tempting fate in Arradon.
Jeff is almost in the Gulf of Morbihan.

Cyndi, Jeff, and Jackie in Arradon
Jackie, Jeff, and Cyndi walking along the Gulf of Morbihan near the marina in Arradon.

Cyndi and Jackie in the town of Vannes.
Jackie and Cyndi overlooking the gardens of Vannes. This town is near the Gulf of Morbihan. Vannes was fortified to prevent a Norman invasion. It's ramparts have become beautiful gardens.

Church of St. Leonard, Fougeres, Brittany
St. Joan stained glass

Jackie and Jeff overlooking Valley of No Return
The Valley of No Return is located in the Forest of Paimpont or Broceliande. Broceliande is where the legend of King Arthur is believed to have originated.

Dean, and Cyndi on the shore of Fairy's Mirror Lake
This lake is found at the bottom of the Valley of No Return in Forest of Paimpont (Broceliande).

Jackie, and Jeff at the site of Merlin's Tomb
This tomb, located in Forest of Paimpont/Broceliande, was at one time much larger, but individuals have damaged much of the site looking for treasures.

Jackie, and Jeff at clearing near The Fountain of Youth
This clearing was covered with piled stone towers, Forest of Paimpont/Broceliande.

Cyndi at The Fountain of Youth in Forest of Paimpont/Broceliande
Cyndi is scooping up water from the Fountain of Youth.