Best things to do in Carnac

Carnac Essentials

Carnac is home to one of the most significant Neolithic concentrations in the world, featuring over 3,000 standing stones. This collection highlights the major megalithic alignments of Ménec and Kerlescan, alongside massive burial mounds like the Saint-Michel Tumulus and the ancient Kercado cairn. Beyond the prehistoric sites, the list includes the Prehistory Museum’s extensive artifact collection and architectural landmarks such as the 17th-century Église Saint-Cornély and the coastal Chapelle Saint-Colomban.

Carnac Essentials — Map

Odedr / Public domain

A

Carnac Stones

Carnac is a commune beside the Gulf of Morbihan on the south coast of Brittany in the Morbihan department in north-western France.

Auguste Desperet (1804-1865) / Public domain

B

Alignement du Ménec

The largest of the Carnac alignments, consisting of 1,050 stones arranged in 11 rows stretching over one kilometer. The site features a semicircular cromlech at its western end.

Kamel15 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Alignements de Kerlescan (alignement 1)

The smallest and best-preserved of the three main sites, containing 555 menhirs in 13 rows. The site is notable for its northern cromlech and proximity to a nearby dolmen.

Jordiferrer / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Prehistory Museum of Carnac

Established in 1881, this museum displays a vast collection of Neolithic artifacts, including jewelry, tools, and ceramics recovered from local archaeological excavations.

YolanC / CC BY 2.0

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Saint-Michel tumulus

The Saint-Michel tumulus is a megalithic grave mound, located east of Carnac in Brittany, France.

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Le Géant du Manio

Standing at approximately 6.5 meters, this is the tallest menhir in the Carnac area. It serves as an indicator stone for the nearby Manio quadrilateral.

Gerhard Haubold / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Tumulus-dolmen de Kercado

A megalithic burial mound dating to approximately 4500 BC. It features a passage leading to a central chamber topped by its original cairn, making it one of the oldest in Europe.

Agence Rol / Public domain

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Église Saint-Cornély

A 17th and 18th-century church dedicated to the patron saint of cattle. It is known for its Renaissance-style granite porch and ornate interior ceiling paintings.

Traumrune / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Tumulus à trois dolmens de Mané-Kérioned

A unique archaeological site featuring three dolmens arranged in a U-shape, once covered by a single burial mound. Some stones feature faint Neolithic engravings.

Petro / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Tumulus du Moustoir

An elongated megalithic burial mound measuring 85 meters in length. The site includes a burial chamber and is marked by a menhir standing at its western edge.

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Le Petit Train de Carnac

A seasonal tourist train providing guided tours between the town center, the seaside, and the primary megalithic alignment fields.

Moreau.henri / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Chapelle Saint-Colomban

A 16th-century granite chapel located in a traditional Breton hamlet near the coast, featuring late Gothic architectural elements.

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Quadrilatère du Manio

A rectangular enclosure of small standing stones located near the Giant of Manio. It is believed to have served a ritual or funerary purpose.

Stevage / CC BY 2.5

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Dolmen de Kerlescan

A well-preserved megalithic passage grave situated at the edge of the Kerlescan alignments, representing typical Neolithic funerary architecture.

Other Lists

Carnac Megaliths Historic Churches of Carnac