Val sans Retour
2 kmFrom age 6Dog-friendly
A red-rock valley next to Tréhorenteuc, with the Miroir aux Fées and the Golden Tree: a free walk of about 2 km, open in winter too.
From RennesAbout 40 km
WalksFrom the Val sans Retour to Barenton
Best timeMay · Jun · Oct
Minimum time1 day
What to do
What to do in Brocéliande Forest
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Barenton Spring
FamiliesDog-friendly
An Arthurian spring in the Paimpont forest, near La Folle Pensée, where Merlin met Vivian. Free; closed on Thursdays in winter.
Merlin's Tomb
30 minAll agesDog-friendly
Three slabs of a Neolithic gallery more than 5,000 years old in the north of the forest, which tradition calls Merlin's tomb. Free access.
Plan the trip
Brocéliande Forest, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Brocéliande Forest
May and June for the green, and October for the colour of the forest and the morning mist. In summer there are more people in the car parks of the famous sites. From November to March the château of Comper closes and the paths turn to mud.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Who you're with
Brocéliande Forest for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
A forest told in stories
Brocéliande works with children if they arrive knowing the stories: Merlin, Vivian, Morgan le Fay and King Arthur. The walks are short and flat, except for the Val sans Retour.
- What works bestMerlin's tomb, a few minutes…
- SleepingPaimpont municipal campsite
- EatingCrêperie in Paimpont
- Bear in mindThe Val sans Retour has…
What works best
- Merlin's tomb, a few minutes from the car
- The Val sans Retour, with rock to scramble on
- The Château de Comper, in season
Sleeping
- Paimpont municipal campsite
- Le Relais de Brocéliande
Eating
- Crêperie in Paimpont
- A picnic by the pond
Bear in mind
- The Val sans Retour has rocky climbs: no pushchairs
- In autumn the paths are muddy
What to do as a family
Where to stay
Where to stay in Brocéliande Forest
Le Relais de Brocéliande
Why we like it: A hotel with a spa in the village of Paimpont, next to the abbey and the pond. A comfortable base for exploring the forest.
Paimpont Brocéliande Municipal Campsite
Why we like it: A simple, inexpensive municipal campsite in the heart of the forest, a short walk from the village and next to the motorhome car park.
Where to eat
Where to eat in Brocéliande Forest
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Restaurant of Le Relais de Brocéliande
What to order: the seasonal menu.
5 rue des Forges · next to the abbey · book on its website
Crêperie
Crêperie La Fée Gourmande
What to order: a savoury buckwheat galette and cider in a bolée.
16 avenue du Chevalier Ponthus, on the edge of the Paimpont pond · check hours and book in summer
Nearby
Near Brocéliande Forest
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
48.45° N · 2.05° W
Dinan
By carCar-freeBy plane
48.65° N · 2.03° W
Saint-Malo
By carCar-freeBy campervanCampingOn foot
48.68° N · 1.85° W
Cancale
By carBy campervanCampingCar-free
47.59° N · 3.04° W
Carnac and the Gulf of Morbihan
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Start in Paimpont
The tourist office has maps of the sites and the walks. The village, with its abbey beside the pond, is in the middle of the forest.
- 2Bring hiking footwear
The paths are dirt and in autumn there is mud.
- 3Much of it is private property
The forest is largely private: stay on the signposted paths.
What is Brocéliande?
The name that the Arthurian romances gave to an enchanted forest and that tradition places in the forest of Paimpont, between Ille-et-Vilaine and Morbihan. Here are the Val sans Retour, where the fairy Morgan imprisoned unfaithful lovers; the Barenton spring; Merlin's tomb and the château of Comper, which legend makes the home of the fairy Viviane.
How do you get there?
By car, about 40 km west of Rennes, which has an airport and a TGV from Paris. From the border it is about 690 km, with tolls as far as Nantes. Without a car it is complicated: the sites are scattered through the forest and public transport is scarce.
How much time do you need?
One day for the Val sans Retour, Paimpont and its abbey, and Comper. Two if you want to walk to Barenton and around the ponds.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I see it in a day from Rennes?
Yes. It is an easy day trip by car.
What is the prettiest part?
The Val sans Retour, with its rock, the Fairies' Mirror pond and the Golden Tree.
Is it open in winter?
The forest, yes. The château of Comper and its Arthurian centre close from November to March.
Do I have to pay?
The paths and the legend sites are free. You pay for the château of Comper.