# Brocéliande Forest

The forest of Paimpont, west of Rennes, is the Brocéliande of the Arthurian legends. You walk among ponds, oaks and places with fairy names. A day is enough; two if you walk.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/brittany/broceliande-forest · Revisado: 2026-11-11

## 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.

## Dónde está
- Cerca: Dinan (a 49.2 km), Saint-Malo (a 70.8 km), Cancale (a 76.6 km), Carnac and the Gulf of Morbihan (a 80.2 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Val sans Retour** (2 km · From age 6 · Independent visit · free): What it is
The Val sans Retour, the valley of no return, is a narrow valley of red rock and heath next to Tréhorenteuc, on the west side of the Brocéliande forest. It is the most emblematic place in the forest: a small pond at the entrance, the Miroir aux Fées, rock ridges above and, in the middle, the Golden Tree, a gilded work that commemorates a fire.
The legend
Here reigned Morgan le Fay, the fairy half-sister of King Arthur, who punished the unfaithful. She turned a young man, Guyomarc'h, and his lover into stone, and left them trapped in the valley's red rock: it is the Rocher des Faux Amants, the rock of the false lovers, which rises above the pond. Then she enchanted the hollows of the valley with invisible walls that held disloyal lovers, who lost all sense of time. Lancelot, with a magic ring given to him by Vivian, broke the spell; the prisoners came out, but their youth was gone.
What you see

The Miroir aux Fées, the fairies' mirror: the little pond at the entrance. In Celtic tradition, the other world is reached by crossing water, and this is the threshold.
The Rocher des Faux Amants, above the pond.
The Golden Tree, created in 1991 by the artist François Davin in memory of the forest devastated by the fire of 1990. Its branches recall a stag's antlers and its trunks, swords. It is the most recent legend of Brocéliande.
The ridges, with a view over the valley and the heath.

The route
The walk through the valley, the Miroir aux Fées, the Golden Tree and the ridges comes to about 2 km, and the tourist office keeps it open in autumn and winter too. The ridge section climbs over rocky ground: wear footwear with a good sole.
For a long route, the circuit of the Gurwan heaths and the Val sans Retour (no. 66) starts from the place Abbé Gillard in Tréhorenteuc: 15 km, about 4 h 15, medium difficulty. It passes through the valley, the Château de Trécesson and the so-called Tombeau du Géant. The circuit's page has GPX and PDF. Note: it is forbidden from 1 October to 31 March and discouraged on Thursdays and Fridays from 15 to 30 September, because of hunting.
The Grail church in Tréhorenteuc
Before or after, go into the village church, at 1 place Abbé Gillard. Abbé Gillard, who arrived in 1942, transformed it to unite faith, Celtic tradition and the legend of the Grail. After the war, two German prisoners, Karl Rezabeck and Peter Wisdorf, painted the Stations of the Cross with forest landscapes and villagers as models. In the chancel, Rezabeck painted the legend of the Barenton spring, the appearance of the Grail at the Round Table and the royal family of Saint Judicaël. Look for the white stag with the golden collar. The visit is free, from 9:00 to 18:00, with hours that may change according to the season.
Getting there and parking
Tréhorenteuc is about 13 km from Paimpont, some 25 minutes by car. Park only in the signposted spaces. The Tréhorenteuc tourist office is on 02 97 22 36 43 and the Paimpont one on 02 99 07 84 23.
When to go
In the summer holidays the valley is very busy: the office recommends going first thing or at the end of the afternoon. In low light the red rock and the gold of the tree shine more. May, June and October are good months for the forest. In rain, the rock on the ridges is slippery.
With children and with a dog
The short walk is fine for children who can already walk; on the ridges, hold hands. Telling the legend of Morgan le Fay before going in works well with children. Dogs on a lead, as throughout the forest.
Eating and sleeping
For eating and sleeping, go back to Paimpont: the Crêperie La Fée Gourmande and Le Relais de Brocéliande. If you have another afternoon, combine it with the Barenton spring.
- **Barenton Spring** (Families · Independent visit · free): What it is
The Barenton spring is a spring in the Paimpont forest, at the place called La Folle Pensée, on the north slope of the Ponthus hill, at about 185 m altitude. It is one of the oldest places in Arthurian legend: 12th-century texts mention it. Beside it is a stone slab, the Perron de Merlin, where according to tradition Merlin met the fairy Vivian.
Why it matters
It is the first place in Brocéliande to appear in writing. Around 1160, the chronicler Wace tells in the Roman de Rou that in times of drought the Bretons poured water from the spring onto the slab to make it rain, and that he went to look for it and saw nothing. At the end of the 12th century, Chrétien de Troyes sets the adventure of Yvain, the Knight of the Lion here, without naming it: the knight who pours water on the stone unleashes a storm. In 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis describes the same rite with a buffalo horn, and a letter from 1467 says the lords of Montfort were still doing it.
The legend told by the tourist office is another: here, disguised as a squire, Merlin gave Vivian her first lesson in magic, teaching her to make a cold, swift river spring up in a dry heath. Then he left without a word.
What you see
A small stone basin of clear water, surrounded by forest, and the Perron slab beside it. The water stays around 10 ºC all year. On stormy days it seems to boil, from the nitrogen and carbon dioxide bubbles rising from the bottom. Tradition says that if it bubbles, you can make a wish.
Getting there
The spring is about 11 km from Paimpont by car, some 25 minutes along small roads to the hamlet of La Folle Pensée. From the car park at the end of the hamlet, the forest track leads to the spring. The Paimpont tourist office gives out the map with the route; ask for it before setting out, because in the forest coverage is poor. Park only in the signposted spaces.
The walking circuits that leave from La Folle Pensée and pass by the spring are around 10 km. If you only want to see the spring and go back, ask at the office for the most direct path.
Restrictions in autumn and winter
From 15 September to 31 March the conditions for access to the forest change because of hunting. At that time, the tourist office states that the Barenton spring is open except on Thursdays. Do not enter an area where a hunt is announced, respect barriers and signs, follow the signposted variant and keep your dog on a lead. In the state forest mushroom picking is only allowed outside Tuesdays and Thursdays, up to 5 litres per person per day.
When to go
May, June and October are good months for the forest. In summer, early or late in the afternoon is calmer, as at all the legendary places in the forest. In rain the path gets muddy; wear hiking footwear.
With children and with a dog
It is a walk along a forest track, suitable for families who walk. Tell them the story of Yvain's storm beforehand: pouring water on the stone is not allowed, but imagining it is. With a dog, always on a lead.
Forest rules
Follow the authorised paths, do not light fires, do not gather wood or flowers, and take your rubbish with you. Part of the forest is private: fences are respected even if you see no activity.
Combine the day
From Paimpont, do the abbey and the pond in the morning, Barenton in the afternoon and, if you have energy left, the Val sans Retour in Tréhorenteuc. To sleep in the forest, Le Relais de Brocéliande or the Paimpont municipal campsite.
- **Merlin's Tomb** (30 min · All ages · Independent visit · free): What it is
The so-called tomb of Merlin is three slabs of red schist in the forest, at the site of La Marette, next to the hamlet of Les Landelles, in the commune of Paimpont, in the north of the Brocéliande forest. It is not a medieval tomb: these are the remains of a Neolithic covered gallery, more than 5,000 years old, which local tradition began to associate with the wizard at the end of the 19th century. In summer it receives many visitors, and people leave notes, small gifts, wreaths and flowers among the stones.
What remains and why it matters
The gallery was about 10.5 m long and 1.5 m wide, built of purple schist. When it was already badly deteriorated, in 1892, treasure hunters dug up the site and broke the blocks they could not move; by 1894 only three stones were left. The tourist office speaks of a blast at the end of the 19th century. Locals say the ground sounds hollow around the stones, as if there were a chamber underneath. In 2008 a European LEADER programme funded the restoration of the site, which was in poor condition.
The legend says that Vivian shut Merlin in under a flowering hawthorn, and behind the monument a hawthorn is still growing. According to other versions, the wizard is shut in a cave, in a mist, in a turning stone or in the trunk of the oldest tree in the forest, or is still walking in it with Vivian.
Nearby: the Fountain of Youth
On the same walking route is the Fontaine de Jouvence: tradition says its water restores youth to the body and heart of whoever drinks it.
Getting there
The tomb is about 12 km from Paimpont by car, some 15 minutes, to the north-east of the forest, near Saint-Malon-sur-Mel. In the forest, park only in the marked spaces. The Paimpont tourist office will tell you the most direct access and gives out forest maps.
To do it on foot, the waymarked circuit "À la mémoire de Merlin" (no. 160) starts from the car park of the Étang de La Marette campsite, in Saint-Malon-sur-Mel: 13 km, about 3 h 30, easy. It passes the pond and the quarry of La Marette, a protected natural area, the Fountain of Youth, Merlin's tomb, the so-called tomb of the English and the chapel of Saint-Jouan. On the circuit's page you can download the GPX and the PDF.
Restrictions in autumn and winter
From 15 September to 31 March access changes because of hunting. At that time Merlin's tomb and the Fountain of Youth are open except on hunt days. The calendar of hunts in the state forest is published by the ONF, the French forestry office, and may change. If you see a hunt notice, do not enter the sector and follow the signposted variant. Dogs always on a lead.
When to go
In summer the site is very busy: the tourist office recommends going first thing in the morning or at the end of the afternoon. Spring and autumn are good seasons for the forest.
How long
If you arrive by car, half an hour is enough for the stones and the hawthorn. With the Fountain of Youth, an hour. The full circuit on foot, half a day.
With children
The short visit is suitable for all ages. Children like to leave their note among the stones; do it without moving anything and without touching the hawthorn.
Rules
It is a fragile monument: do not climb on the slabs, do not carve anything and do not leave objects that do not biodegrade. Follow the authorised paths, do not light fires or pick flowers, and take your rubbish with you.
Combine the day
In the morning, the Paimpont Abbey; then the Château de Comper, in Concoret, if it is in season; and at the end of the afternoon, Merlin's tomb, when the groups have gone.
- **Château de Comper and the Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien** (1 h 30 · Paid entry): What it is
The Château de Comper is a castle on a lake in Concoret, on the northern edge of the Brocéliande forest, about 6 km from Paimpont. For Arthurian legend it is a key place: it was said to have been built by Dionas, Vivian's father, and at the bottom of its lake the Lady of the Lake raised Lancelot in a crystal palace. Today it houses the Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien, a cultural centre devoted to the legends of King Arthur and to Celtic culture.
What you see

The castle and the lake. The building is reflected in the water, and from the park you get the view you associate with the legends of Vivian and Lancelot.
The exhibitions. Every year the centre puts on an exhibition about Arthurian culture, with texts, images and works of art, and another, larger, seasonal exhibition.
The bookshop and the screening room, with books and films for all ages about the legends.
The park and the forest paths, which storytelling guides lead you along on narrated visits, some designed for children.

Season and price
The centre schedules its activity from April to October: that is when it opens its exhibitions and organises shows. Outside those months do not count on being able to go in. Entry is paid. Neither the hours nor the 2027 rates were published in the sources we were able to consult: check them on the Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien website before going or ask at the Paimpont tourist office (02 99 07 84 23).
Festivals and shows
Throughout the season the centre holds several events: Beltane in spring, the Pendragon medieval fantasy festival in summer and a week of Samhain at the end of the season. The tourist office also highlights the Pentecôte du Roi Arthur and the Rencontres de l'Imaginaire. Dates appear in the Destination Brocéliande events calendar.
Getting there
From Paimpont it is about 6 km by road, under ten minutes by car. The address is Château de Comper, 56430 Concoret. For walking, the tourist office suggests the Comper circuit (no. 33), which starts from Concoret.
How long
An hour and a half for the park, the exhibition and the bookshop. If you join a narrated visit or coincide with a show, half a day.
With children
There are narrated walks designed for children, and the exhibitions and the bookshop have material for all ages. Prepare the story of Vivian, Merlin and Lancelot beforehand, as children enjoy it more if they arrive knowing who is who.
Combine the day
In the morning, the Paimpont Abbey and the Porte des Secrets; at midday, Comper; in the afternoon, the tomb of Merlin or the Barenton spring. For lunch, go back to Paimpont: the Crêperie La Fée Gourmande is on the edge of the pond.
- **Paimpont Abbey and Pond** (1 h · Pushchair-friendly · Village and abbey free; Porte des Secrets paid): What it is
Paimpont is the village at the centre of the Brocéliande forest, and its abbey, on the edge of the pond, is its heart. Almost any visit to the forest starts here: you have the tourist office, the car park, places to eat and sleep, and the Porte des Secrets trail, which explains the legends before you set out to look for them. The walk around the village, the abbey and the pond shore is flat and short.
The abbey
Tradition places its foundation around the year 630: a priory dedicated to Our Lady, built by the Breton king Judicaël and his friend Méen. Norman invasions destroyed it in the 9th century. In 1192 the prior Tual turned it into an abbey of Augustinian canons, and in 1199 work began on the Gothic church you see today. In the 15th century Abbot Olivier Guiho gave it stone vaults, and in the 17th the Grand Logis and the abbot's house were rebuilt. With the Revolution, in 1790, it was sold as national property and the canons left.
The former abbey church is now the parish church of Notre-Dame, a listed historic monument since 1966. Inside, look out for:

The Gothic nave, with its original vaults.
The ivory Christ from the 17th century.
The treasury, in the sacristy: gold and silver liturgical objects and old books from the 15th century to today, with a reliquary in the shape of the arm of Saint Judicaël from the 15th century, a silver chalice and a censer from the 17th, and a 15th-century fresco in the room.

The Grand Logis now houses the town hall. To the north of the pond, the parish garden is a wooded park with a grotto of the Virgin and a fountain beside the statue of Saint Judicaël.
The Porte des Secrets
In the abbey building, the Brocéliande tourist office runs a staged trail of about 50 minutes about the forest and its legends, with departures every 20 minutes and audio guides in four languages. It is open all year, with hours depending on the season, and is recommended from age 5. It is accessible without steps, with a lift, and does not admit animals. Tickets are bought online on the office's booking site; in summer, it is best to book two days ahead. From 19 September to 30 November 2026 there is also a free exhibition, "Entre corbeau et loup".
Hours and price
Strolling around the village, the pond and the outside of the abbey is free. The church is a parish church; for the treasury's hours, ask at the tourist office, at 1 place du Roi Saint-Judicaël (02 99 07 84 23). Outside school holidays the office is open Wednesday to Sunday from October to March and every day from April to June and in September, from 9:30 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:00; in July, from 9:30 to 19:00, and in August, until 20:00. It is closed on 25 and 31 December and on 1 January.
Getting there
Paimpont is about 43 km from Rennes, about 45 minutes by car. Park in the village and do the rest on foot. From here, the Château de Comper is about 6 km away, the Barenton spring about 11 km and the Val sans Retour, in Tréhorenteuc, about 13 km.
How long
An hour for the village, the abbey and the pond shore. With the Porte des Secrets, allow another hour.
With children and accessibility
The walk is flat and can be done with a pushchair. The Porte des Secrets is wheelchair accessible and works well with children from age 5, before heading into the forest.
Eating and sleeping
On the edge of the pond is the Crêperie La Fée Gourmande, and next to the abbey, the hotel and restaurant Le Relais de Brocéliande. For tight budgets, the municipal campsite, a short walk from the village.

## Dónde comer
- **Restaurant of Le Relais de Brocéliande** (Restaurant, Paimpont, €€€). Qué pedir: the seasonal menu.
- **Crêperie La Fée Gourmande** (Restaurant, Paimpont, €). Qué pedir: a savoury buckwheat galette and cider in a bolée.

## As a family: 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 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

### Qué hacer as a family
- Val sans Retour
- Barenton Spring
- Merlin's Tomb
- Château de Comper and the Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien

## Consejos

### Start 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.

### Bring hiking footwear
The paths are dirt and in autumn there is mud.

### Much of it is private property
The forest is largely private: stay on the signposted paths.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### 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.