Carnac is a quaint village of Celtic origin filled with relics from prehistoric times. The region is known for the range of dolmen megalithic tombs and menhir stones that shed light on the people who inhabited the area millennia ago. Make your way through the museums and historic sights for an insight into the village’s rich history.
Visit the impressive Carnac Menhirs that dot the countryside in the region. The highlight is the Alignements de Carnac site in the Kermario district, just northeast of the village. Inspect the range of Neolithic temples that apparently marked the paths to sacred spaces. Take a guided tour around the site, which claims to be the world’s largest megalithic complex.
Continue with this prehistoric theme at the Dolmen de Mané-Kerioned. See the three 5,000-year-old dolmens with artistic carvings on the interior part of their rocks. These narrow tombs can be entered and explored with torches.
Back in the town center is the Musée de Carnac, which traces the evolution of humans and our progression through to the Middle Ages. Browse the intriguing artifacts that shed light on the construction of the megaliths, alongside tools and symbols important to Neolithic peoples.
Wander through the quaint village and see such sights as the Saint-Cornély de Carnac Church and the Paroisse de Carnac Church. Relax with snacks and refreshments in the patisseries and crêperies of this traditional French destination.
For a change of scenery, head south to the stunning Carnac Beach area, which contains around five separate stretches of sand.
The town is on the southern flank of the peninsula that juts out from the northwestern corner of France. It is in the western part of Brittany. Fly to the Lorient South Brittany Airport and drive southeast for 33 miles (53 kilometers) to get here in around 45 minutes. See nearby towns, such as Lorient, Brest and the medieval Vannes.
Carnac is a fascinating spot to learn about our distant ancestors and their ways of life.
