Barenton Spring

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.